Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong has once again used the band’s iconic track “American Idiot” as a platform for political commentary, this time taking a jab at billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk. During their recent debut performance in South Africa, Armstrong swapped the line “I’m not a part of the redneck agenda” with “I’m not a part of the Elon agenda,” which seemed to reference Musk’s ongoing controversies.
This dig comes amid the backlash Musk faced for a gesture he made at Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony in Washington D.C., which many interpreted as a Sieg Heil salute. The timing of Armstrong’s lyric change suggests the band is still vocal in their criticism of Musk’s actions and his public persona.
This isn’t the first time Green Day has targeted Musk. During their 2023 New Year’s Rockin’ Eve performance, the band altered the lyrics to say, “I’m not a part of the MAGA agenda,” a reference to Trump’s political movement. Musk fired back on X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the band with the remark, “Green Day goes from raging against the machine to milquetoastedly raging for it.”
Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt didn’t hold back in an interview, addressing Musk’s comments with sarcasm. “Elon Musk actually is the machine. I can’t take anything else from that,” he quipped. “He’s not shy about saying stupid sh*t on the internet. Whatever. The song’s twenty years old, and we’re Green Day. What did you expect?”
Musk has yet to publicly respond to the band’s most recent jab, but Green Day’s outspoken political stance continues to be a key part of their identity.
In other Green Day news, the band will perform at the FireAid benefit concert in Los Angeles on January 30, alongside major acts like Red Hot Chili Peppers, No Doubt, Stevie Wonder, and Lady Gaga, further cementing their place in the rock community while also using their platform for activism.
