Green light for punk spectacle.

Byline: By Gordon Barr

Power pop punksters Green Day are at the Metro Radio Arena on Tuesday. Riding high on the success of their multi-platinum American Idiot album, the show is already a sell-out.

Produced by Rob Cavallo, American Idiot was the band's first new studio album in four years and is up for a Grammy Award later this month.

Centred around two five-part nine-minute epics, it is a concept album looking at the alienation and disillusionment of the American citizen under Bush's War on Terror administration.

It mixes stomping melodic punk with elements of classic American rock and a hint of psychedelia.

The album has something of a softer edge to it than its predecessors in terms of musical styles, if not lyrical content.

It has already spawned two Top 10 hits, American Idiot and Boulevard of Broken Dreams.

Fans can expect an epic opening on Tuesday night, with the nine-minute Jesus of Suburbia kicking off proceedings.

The last time Green Day played the Arena, the Chronicle reviewer wrote: "You know you have been to a good gig when you have to wring out your T-shirt afterwards.

"It seemed the entire punk population of the North East descended on the already crowded pit."

It's a scenario which looks likely to be repeated next week, as more than 10,000 pop-punkers descend on the arena.

Arena bosses stress no chains, cameras or crowd-surfing will be allowed at Tuesday's gig.