The song holds the record of the longest performance on the UK television programme, Top of the Pops at 9 minutes and 10 seconds on November 6, 2005.
At many concerts on the 21st Century Breakdown World Tour the band picked an audience member from the crowd to play guitar on the song.
The song was an extension of Armstrong's desire to write the "Bohemian Rhapsody" of the future.
It is often recognized as one of Green Day's greatest songs.
The official music video premiered on October 14, 2005 in the UK and on October 25, 2005 on the MTV network for viewers in the US.