A 1986, abokai Billie Joe Armstrong da Mike Dirnt, shekaru 14 da haihuwa a lokacin, sun kafa wani rukuni mai suna Sweet Children. An fara wasan farko na rukuni a ranar 17 ga Oktoba, 1987, a Rod's Hickory Pit a Vallejo, California. A 1988, Armstrong da Dirnt sun fara aiki tare da tsohon Isocracy drummer John Kiffmeyer, wanda aka fi sani da "Al Sobrante". Armstrong ya ambaci ƙungiyar Operation Ivy (wanda ya ƙunshi Tim Armstrong da Matt Freeman na Rancid) a matsayin babban tasiri, kuma rukuni wanda ya yi wahayi zuwa gare shi don kafa ƙungiya. A 1988, Larry Livermore, mai mallakar Lookout!
Oktoba 17, 1987, a Rod's Hickory Pit