[2] In the cafeteria in Carquinez Middle School, ten-year-old Pritchard met Billie Joe Armstrong, with whom he bonded instantly.

[4] Pritchard's family struggled with financial troubles; in an effort to help out, he worked as a chef at Nantucket, a seafood restaurant in Crockett.

[5] He eventually saved enough money to purchase a used pickup truck that he and Armstrong often drove to Berkeley, where they attended shows at 924 Gilman Street, an influential DIY punk club.

"[6] While at Pinole Valley High School, Dirnt and classmate Armstrong formed a band called Sweet Children.

[4] Dirnt's mother struggled to provide for him and his sister as a single parent and eventually had to leave Rodeo in 1987 to look for work.

The band performed several well-received sets, which encouraged Armstrong to drop out of high school to focus his energy on music.

Overwhelmed by the chaotic situation, concert security mistook the mud-soaked Dirnt for a fan and tackled him, knocking out one of his teeth.

[12] While performing at the 1998 KROQ Weenie Roast in Irvine, California, Third Eye Blind bassist Arion Salazar ran onstage and "bear-hugged" Dirnt, who was caught off-guard.

[citation needed] In the live album, Bullet in a Bible, Armstrong calls Dirnt "the best bass player in the history of punk rock".

[citation needed] In 2007, during the recording of Green Day's eighth studio album 21st Century Breakdown, Dirnt, Armstrong, and drummer Tré Cool formed the garage rock side project, Foxboro Hot Tubs.

[15] On April 18, 2015, Dirnt and his Green Day bandmates were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in their first year of eligibility.

Mike also composed the intro to "Desensitized" from Shenanigans using a baseball bat and an old cathode ray tube television.

[21] Dirnt sings lead vocals on "Governator",[19] part of the third verse of "Outsider" on the Shenanigans album, the "Nobody Likes You" subtrack of "Homecoming".

For the Green Day side project The Network, Dirnt shares lead vocal duties with Armstrong.

[26] The diner was named after a song by punk rock band the Clash, "Rudie Can't Fail", from their album London Calling.

[27][28] In July 2014, it was announced that Dirnt would co-produce the Indie film Crickets, with Green Day manager, Pat Magnarella.