Green Day, the iconic American rock band, took aim at Elon Musk while performing in his home country of South Africa this week.
The band’s first-ever concert in the country turned into a platform for some pointed political commentary when frontman Billie Joe Armstrong altered the lyrics to their hit song American Idiot.
During the performance at Calabash South Africa in Johannesburg on Sunday, January 19, Armstrong swapped the original lyric “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” with “I’m not a part of the Elon agenda,” sending a clear message aimed at the Tesla and SpaceX CEO.
Musk’s Response Still Pending
As of now, Musk, born in Pretoria, has not responded publicly to Green Day’s lyric change.
The incident comes amid Musk’s ongoing involvement in political circles, including his ties to Donald Trump.
Musk, a vocal ally of Trump, was even chosen by the former president to lead the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) project, alongside biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.
However, just days after the announcement, Ramaswamy was removed from the project, adding another layer of controversy to the ongoing saga.
Earlier Criticism from Green Day
This is not the first time Green Day has used their music to criticize Musk.
In a 2023 New Year’s Rockin’ Eve performance, Armstrong once again swapped lyrics in American Idiot, changing “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” to “I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda,” a jab at Trump’s infamous slogan.
Musk responded to the band’s criticism by tweeting, “Green Day goes from raging against the machine to milquetoastedly raging for it,” a remark that didn’t sit well with the band.
Bassist Mike Dirnt later fired back in a January 2024 interview, saying, “Elon Musk actually is the machine.
I can’t take anything else from that. He’s not shy about saying stupid stuff on the internet.” Dirnt’s blunt comments highlighted the band’s ongoing frustration with Musk’s behavior.
Green Day’s Ongoing Critique in South Africa
When Green Day performed their second concert in South Africa at the Cape Town Stadium on Thursday, Armstrong repeated the same lyric swap, further solidifying the band’s disdain for Musk and his political associations.
The band’s defiant stance on political matters continues to be a central part of their identity, and they’ve made it clear that they won’t back down in their critiques.
Musk Draws More Controversy
While Green Day was in South Africa, Musk found himself in the spotlight again after making a hand gesture during Trump’s Inauguration Day that many observers likened to a Nazi salute.
The controversy surrounding Musk continues to grow as he navigates both his business empire and his increasingly contentious political involvement.
Who Are Green Day?
Formed in 1987, Green Day is an American rock band that rose to fame in the ’90s with their breakout album Dookie, which sold over 20 million copies worldwide.
Known for their punk rock roots, Green Day is credited with bringing punk music back into the mainstream alongside other California-based bands like Bad Religion and The Offspring.
With a career spanning decades, Green Day continues to push boundaries with their music and outspoken political views.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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