If you weren’t a fan of Bad Bunny headlining this year’s Super Bowl half-time show, this should cleanse the palate. Green Day is the opening act for Super Bowl 60, bringing the world’s biggest sporting event back to their Bay Area roots next month.
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The NFL confirmed the news a few days ago (January 18), revealing that the East Bay legends will perform ahead of the February 8 kickoff at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The band will deliver a medley of their best known songs as past Super Bowl MVPs are honoured on the field during the opening ceremony.
Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong called the moment full circle.
“We are super hyped to open Super Bowl 60 right in our backyard,” Armstrong said. “We are honoured 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, the NFL’s senior director of event and game presentation, said the pairing was intentional.
“Celebrating 60 years of Super Bowl history with Green Day as a hometown band, while honouring the NFL legends who’ve helped define this sport, is an incredibly powerful way to kick off Super Bowl LX,” Tubito said, adding that the league is working alongside NBC Sports to deliver a global celebration.
Charlie Puth is set to perform the US national anthem and Brandi Carlile will sing America the Beautiful at the Super Bowl. Bad Bunny has promised that “the world will dance” during his performance, a booking that has also sparked vocal backlash from some political groups. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has publicly defended the decision, saying the choice was “carefully thought through”.
Meanwhile, Green Day continue to expand their universe. The band recently shared the trailer for New Years Rev, a road trip comedy inspired by their early touring days. The film follows three friends who mistakenly believe they have landed a Green Day support slot on New Year’s Eve and drive from Kansas to California to make it happen. The film premiered in Toronto on September 12.
From punk clubs to the Super Bowl stage, Green Day’s hometown moment is about as full circle as it gets!
