Inexperienced Day used their efficiency on Dick Clark’s New Yr’s Rockin’ Eve on Sunday night time to make the ABC particular’s viewers conscious of their political opinions.
Throughout a efficiency of the group’s 2004 hit “American Fool,” initially written throughout George W. Bush’s presidency concerning the Iraq conflict, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong modified the lyrics from, “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” to “I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda.”
The tweak, which the rockers beforehand made throughout a efficiency of the tune through the 2019 iHeartRadio Music Pageant in Las Vegas, appeared directed at former President Donald Trump and his supporters who’ve embraced his “Make America Nice Once more” slogan.
The second has sparked a backlash from a variety of social media customers, together with Trump supporters. Amongst these going after the band was Hercules star Kevin Sorbo, who wrote, “Punk rock is professional massive authorities.”
However that is removed from the primary time the group and Armstrong have gone after Trump.
In August 2016, Armstrong advised Kerrang! journal, “The worst downside I see about Trump is who his followers are. I truly really feel dangerous for them, as a result of they’re poor, working-class individuals who can’t get a leg up. They’re pissed off and he’s preyed on their anger.”
“He simply mentioned, ‘You haven’t any choices and I’m the one one, and I’m going to care for it myself.’ I imply, that’s f—ing Hitler, man!” he continued. “I don’t even understand how else to clarify it. I want I had been over-exaggerating. And generally perhaps I do over-exaggerate with Bush. However with Trump, I simply can’t wait till he’s gone.”
On the 2016 American Music Awards, the band yelled “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA” through the efficiency of their tune “Bang Bang.”
And in 2017, through the band’s tour, Armstrong would shout “Fuck you, Donald Trump!” whereas performing “American Fool.”
“I need individuals to really feel unity after they come to a present. On the similar time, I’m not going to puss out on saying what I really feel about him and his administration,” Armstrong advised Rolling Stone that yr. “There are lots of people within the quote, unquote crimson states that get a giant sense of reduction once I say one thing like ‘Fuck you, Trump.’ That’s as a result of they’re within the minority the place they stay and at our reveals they get this form of launch,” he continued.
After Trump was charged with trying to intervene with Georgia’s election course of within the 2020 presidential race and his mugshot was launched in August, the group offered an “ultimate Nimrod” shirt with the phrase over Trump’s reserving picture. Proceeds from the restricted version merch went to the Larger Good Music charity, which Inexperienced Day famous on the time was bringing meals to these affected by the Maui wildfires.
On New Yr’s Rockin’ Eve, Inexperienced Day additionally carried out hits “Basket Case” and “Welcome to Paradise,” off of their breakout album Dookie, celebrating its thirtieth anniversary; “Vacation,” from American Fool, celebrating its twentieth anniversary; and “Dilemma” from their new album Saviors, out Jan. 19, earlier than the band embarks on a tour with Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid and the Linda Lindas.
Dick Clark Productions, which produces Dick Clark’s New Yr’s Rockin’ Eve With Ryan Seacrest, is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a three way partnership between Penske Media Company and Eldridge that additionally owns The Hollywood Reporter.
