Inexperienced Day Take Goal at Elon Musk With Altered ‘American Fool’ Lyrics

Inexperienced Day delivered a politically charged efficiency throughout their Jan. 19 live performance at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium, marking their debut in South Africa.

Whilst acting their iconic 2004 hit “American Fool,” frontman Billie Joe Armstrong swapped the lyric “I’m now not part of the redneck time table” with “I’m now not part of the Elon time table,” a right away jab at billionaire Elon Musk, who was once born in Pretoria.

The display in South Africa, a part of the Calabash 2025 competition, noticed Inexperienced Day headlining along The Offspring and native punk heroes Fokofpolisiekar.

The jab at Musk comes amidst controversy surrounding the billionaire’s habits at Trump’s 2d inauguration.

All over his speech on the birthday party, Musk made a hand gesture that sparked common on-line comparisons to a Nazi salute. Critics lambasted the gesture, whilst Musk pushed aside the grievance, calling it a “drained” assault. The Anti-Defamation League in the long run described the gesture as an “awkward gesture in a second of enthusiasm” relatively than malicious intent, however the incident added to the polarizing determine’s contentious popularity.

This isn’t the primary time Inexperienced Day has known as out Musk; after their 2023 New 12 months’s Rockin’ Eve efficiency, the place they altered the lyrics of “American Fool” to mention “I’m now not part of the MAGA time table,” Musk criticized the band on X (previously Twitter), writing, “Inexperienced Day is going from raging towards the device to milquetoastedly raging for it.”

In reaction, bassist Mike Dirnt quipped as according to The Unbiased, “Elon Musk in reality is the device. I will be able to’t take the rest from that. He’s now not shy about announcing silly s**t on the net. No matter. The track’s 20 years previous, and we’re Inexperienced Day. What did you are expecting?”

Musk is but to touch upon their newest jab.

Inexperienced Day has an extended historical past of difficult political figures thru their track. The band famously chanted “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA” throughout their efficiency on the 2016 American Tune Awards. In 2023, they launched the “Final Nimrod” t-shirt, that includes Trump’s mugshot styled after their Nimrod album quilt, with proceeds supporting Maui wildfire reduction efforts.

“Excellent Riddance. Without equal Nimrod blouse is to be had for 72 hours simplest,” Inexperienced Day posted on the time. “Restricted version blouse proceeds shall be donated to…[Greater Good Music], a charity which is bringing meals to these suffering from the Maui wildfires.”

Armstrong has additionally been vocal in urging lovers to vote for revolutionary applicants, just lately endorsing Kamala Harris for the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

As Inexperienced Day continues their custom of mixing track and activism, they’ve additionally maintained their stature as one of the vital influential punk bands at the Billboard charts.

Their Grammy-winning album American Fool debuted at No. 1 at the Billboard 200 in 2004 and has bought over seven million copies within the U.S. on my own. “Side road of Damaged Desires,” one of the vital band’s maximum enduring hits, peaked at No. 2 at the Billboard Sizzling 100, whilst “Wake Me Up When September Ends” reached No. 6. Their follow-up album, twenty first Century Breakdown, additionally debuted at No. 1 in 2009, proceeding their legacy of chart dominance.