Editing Mike Dirnt (section)

==Early life and education==
Pritchard was born in [[Oakland, California]] on May 4, 1972.<ref name="Nobody Likes You Page 12">{{cite book |last1=Spitz |first1=Marc |title=Nobody Likes You: inside the turbulent life, times, and music of Green Day |url=https://archive.org/details/nobodylikesyouin00spit |url-access=registration |date=2006 |publisher=Hyperion |isbn=1-4013-0274-2 |page=[https://archive.org/details/nobodylikesyouin00spit/page/12 12] |chapter=Twin Jesuses of Suburbia}}</ref> As a child, his father was often away obtaining a degree, while his mother stayed at home to care for him and his sister Myla.<ref name="Spitz13">Spitz, 2006. p. 13</ref> Pritchard excelled in school, despite often missing classes as a result of various illnesses attributed to his biological mother's drug use.

After an argument between his parents led to a call to the police, the couple divorced. His mother and sister moved to [[Rodeo, California]], while he stayed in [[El Sobrante, Contra Costa County, California|El Sobrante, California]], with his father.<ref name="Spitz13" /> However, missing his mother, he eventually moved in with her and Myla. Having been previously described as bright and fearless, Dirnt became sullen and withdrawn after the divorce.<ref name="Spitz13" />

In the cafeteria in Carquinez Middle School, ten-year-old Pritchard met [[Billie Joe Armstrong]], with whom he bonded instantly.<ref name="Spitz13" /> Armstrong began to play guitar with Mike, and the two spent time together at Armstrong's house learning songs by the [[Ramones]], [[Ozzy Osbourne]], [[Def Leppard]], [[Hüsker Dü]], [[AC/DC]], [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]], [[The Replacements (band)|the Replacements]], [[the Who]], and [[Van Halen]].<ref name="Spitz14">Spitz, 2006. p. 14</ref> At the age of 14, they formed a group named "Sweet Children."

After attending [[Salesian High School (Richmond)|Salesian High School]], an all-boys Catholic school for his first year, Pritchard transferred to [[Pinole Valley High School]], where Armstrong had also recently transferred from [[John Swett High School]].<ref name="Spitz16">Spitz, 2006. p. 16</ref> 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, California|Crockett]].<ref name="Spitz20">Spitz, 2006. p. 20</ref> He eventually saved enough money to purchase a used pickup truck that he and Armstrong often drove to [[Berkeley, California|Berkeley]], where they attended shows at [[924 Gilman Street]], an influential [[DIY]] [[Punk rock|punk]] club.<ref name="Spitz20" /> The pair got jobs at the club as security guards, despite their small physiques. Mike recalled, "We lived and died for that place. At that time, it meant everything."<ref name="Spitz35">Spitz, 2006. p. 35</ref>