Green Day have 'tonne' of new songs for ninth album

Green Day's Billie Joe says the band have begun working on new material

Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong has said the Californian band have begun writing material for their ninth album.

The singer tweeted saying the group had "a tonne of new songs" and described the direction as "fresh and hi-energy".

Billie Joe Armstrong, who's 39, added that making the album "felt great".

The punk-pop outfit's most recent album 21st Century Breakdown was released in 2009. They also made available a Live DVD and album of the band during their 2009 world tour.

"I don't want to give away too much but just know that me, Mike, Tre and Jason are collaborating and having the best time playing music," he said.

Armstrong recently completed a short run starring in the Broadway adaptation of the band's 2004 album American Idiot.