Green Day opens Super Bowl LX with politics-free set, omits usual anti-Trump lyrics
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA: Green Day took the stage to honor generations of Super Bowl Most Valuable Players before the start of Super Bowl LX on Sunday, February 8. However, the rock band reportedly avoided making any political statements during their performance.
Band members Mike Dirnt, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Tre Cool performed 'Holiday', 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams', and 'American Idiot' while celebrating NFL legends including Emmitt Smith, Jerry Rice, and brothers Peyton Manning and Eli Manning.
Green Day avoids political lyrics at Super Bowl LX
Despite being known for taking political stands and using their platform to criticize Donald Trump and his policies, the band avoided controversial messaging in ‘Holiday’ and ‘American Idiot.’ The group also skipped a politically charged and contentious bridge from their 2005 single.
On January 18, the National Football League announced that Green Day would open the 60th Super Bowl.
Tim Tubito, the NFL’s Director of Event Presentation & Content, said, “Celebrating 60 years of Super Bowl history with Green Day as a hometown band, while honoring the NFL legends who've helped define this sport, is an incredibly powerful way to kick off Super Bowl LX.”
“As we work alongside NBC Sports for this opening ceremony, we look forward to creating a collective celebration for fans in the stadium and around the world,” he added.
Green Day honored to open Super Bowl LX
The band’s lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, shared at the time that they were “super hyped to open Super Bowl 60 right in our backyard!”
“We are honored to welcome the MVPs who've shaped the game and open the night for fans all over the world. Let's have fun! Let's get loud!” the 53-year-old musician stated.
However, Trump, who is not attending this year’s Super Bowl, had denounced Green Day as well as halftime performer Bad Bunny in January. “I’m anti-them. I think it’s a terrible choice. All it does is sow hatred. Terrible,” he asserted.
Trump added that he is missing Super Bowl LX because it is too far away. He said, “I would go if, you know, it was a little bit shorter."
