Green Day have been announced as playing the Super Bowl opening ceremony in their Bay Area home next month.
The news was confirmed by the NFL today (January 18), who said the band – who hail from East Bay – will play before the big game on February 8. As the band perform a medley of their best-known songs, past Super Bowl MVPs will parade on the field at Levi’s in Santa Clara, California.
Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny will be playing the prestigious half-time show this year for the 60th Super Bowl, in a move that has prompted a sizeable backlash from the MAGA community. Charlie Puth will sing the US national anthem, while Brandi Carlile will perform ‘America The Beautiful’.
Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has said: “We are 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!”
Tim Tubito, senior director of event and game presentation for the NFL, added: “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.”
In other Green Day news, the band shared the trailer for their new road trip comedy film New Years Rev in September. It sees a band named the Analog Dogs, played by Mason Thames, Kylr Coffman, and Ryan Foust, set out to drive from Kansas to California to meet their heroes.
Inspired by their early touring days, the film follows three friends who embark on a road trip in the mistaken belief that they have secured a Green Day support slot at a New Year’s Eve show. It received its world premiere in Toronto on September 12.
Bad Bunny, meanwhile, has promised that “the world will dance” during his half-time show at the Super Bowl.
This is despite Donald Trump calling the decision to have him headline as “crazy”, after claiming that he had “never heard of him”. ICE have confirmed they will have a presence at the show, and a petition has circulated online to have country star George Strait replace him. Turning Point USA, which was founded by the late Charlie Kirk, have also announced an ‘All American Halftime Show’ to run against Bad Bunny.
The NFL has defended Bad Bunny’s slot, with Commissioner Roger Goodell telling the press that the NFL were firm in their decision and reaffirming that the move was “carefully thought through.”