Formed in Arcata, California, Pinhead Gunpowder was Billie Joe Armstrong's side band during the early years of Green Day. Bringing together seasoned American punk musicians Aaron Cometbus (ne Elliott, drums), Jason White and Sarah Kirsch (guitars) and Bill Schneider (bass), the band kept alive the original spirit of the movement with a carefree attitude devoid of any notion of career or success. After several EPs released on various labels, including Tründle and Spring (1991), Fahizah (1992) and Carry the Banner (1994), this spirit was spread through the album Goodbye Ellston Avenue, released on Lookout! Records in 1997. Despite the departure of Sarah Kirsch in 1994 (she passed away in 2012), Pinhead Gunpowder continued as a quartet without changing its line-up, with the EPs Shoot the Moon (1999), Pinhead Gunpowder (2000), 8 Chords, 328 Chords (2000) and West Side Highway (2008), before going their separate ways. Several compilations were released, before the band made a surprise comeback in the same configuration, with the album UNT in 2024.