Green Day specifically made a point to avoid making political music as of late, saying that it “takes those special, inspired moments” to write songs in that vein. The band apparently felt that their nationally televised appearance on New Year’s Rockin’ Eve was such a moment, as frontman Billie Joe Armstrong altered the lyrics to “American Idiot” to sing, “I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda.”
“[With] political songs, it takes a lot of heart to do that, and I think if you keep doing it for the sake of doing it just because you’re angry, then you take the heart out of it,” Armstrong explained in a recent interview with 102.1 the Edge. “Then it just becomes part of what everyone is complaining about.”
Now, though, Armstrong says the conditions are right, as Green Day’s upcoming album, Saviors, will include political songs. Among them is the lead single, “The American Dream Is Killing Me.”
Saviors is due on January 19th, 2024 Next year, Green Day is slated to hit the road for the “Saviors Tour,” with support from The Smashing Pumpkins, Rancid, and The Linda Lindas. Get tickets here.
Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong altered the lyrics in “American Idiot” to sing, “I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda,” during the band’s performance on Ryan Seacrest’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. pic.twitter.com/eclNR7D83s
— CONSEQUENCE (@consequence) January 1, 2024