 Green Day began the recording process for 21st Century Breakdown in January 2008 . Later that year , it was confirmed that the band worked with producer Butch Vig . The album was recorded with Vig throughout 2008 and into early 2009 at four locations in California : Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood , Studio 880 in Oakland , Jel Studios in Newport Beach , and Costa Mesa Studios in Costa Mesa . While recording in Hollywood , the band members bought cheap turntables from Amoeba Music and listened to many vinyl records for inspiration , including albums by The Beat and The Plimsouls . Armstrong cited as inspiration the music of The Kinks ' Ray Davies , The Pretty Things ' S.F. Sorrow , The Doors ' The Doors and Strange Days , and Meat Loaf 's Bat Out of Hell . Drummer Tré Cool noted the influence of Eddie Cochran and The Creation on Armstrong 's writing . 
