In the annals of punk rock history, there are some seminal, definitive moments: the debut of The Ramones at CBGB in 1974, Henry Rollins joining Black Flag, the cover to The Clash's legendary album London Calling, L7's Donita Sparks stripping while performing on live TV, Iggy Pop inventing crowd surfing, a mosh pit and riot breaking out when FEAR performed on Saturday Night Live, and of course, the Sex Pistols famous appearance on The Bill Grundy Show in 1976.
You know who's never been listed as an iconic punk band with any iconic punk moments? Green Day.
'But they play their songs fast. And they have tattoos. and Billie Joe Armstrong has green hair sometimes.'
Yeah, nope. Green Day are the Muppet Babies of punk and always have been. They're a punk band if punk bands were exclusively designed and manufactured by corporate marketing departments.
And last night, they proved it again by appearing on Ryan Seacrest's -- yes, Ryan Seacrest's -- New Year's Eve show.
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
Wow, so edgy. Almost as edgy as their perfectly curated outfits -- that probably each cost more than your mortgage payment -- for their appearance on the show.
Needless to say, X was less than impressed with this 'act of rebellion' by Armstrong and Green Day.
So brave. Much resistance. https://t.co/gqirHE38gp
— Silence and Frost (@secjr112) January 1, 2024
— Ron "Friar" Tuck (@FriarTuck60) January 1, 2024
Since when did it become 'punk' to be the stooges for the Washington, D.C., establishment? Did anyone consult Bad Brains on this new direction for D.C. punk?
Went from 'anarchy for change' to government compliance officers. Weak stuff.
— Scott Coleman (@bandphan) January 1, 2024
Must be sad, being in your 50s, still trying to act like you're 24, and hoping that spouting political bullshit that only pleases the corporate establishment can still make you look like a "rebel." https://t.co/nbXNQKdUsX
— Oscar Von Reuenthal (@OscarVReuenthal) January 1, 2024
In fairness, Green Day was serving the corporate establishment even when they were in their 20s.
https://t.co/Gyhmdm4E98 pic.twitter.com/nlzYaJf6F7
— Lizzy Lou Who ❄️ (@_wintergirl93) January 1, 2024
Sooooo Cringe. The opposite of punk. A middle school girls diary has more edge. https://t.co/LoDJUYomjS
— The Dank Knight 🦇 (@capeandcowell) January 1, 2024
Punk rock is now establishment bootlicking. https://t.co/YaYY4NFYFj
— Jake13th 🏴☠️ (@JakeThirteenth) January 1, 2024
One of the lamest bands in history manages to get lamer. https://t.co/6p6pSuB9xv
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) January 1, 2024
Congratulations?
Don't wanna be a Gren Day idiot.
— 𝓐𝓵𝓵𝓮𝓷 𝓡𝓪𝔂 (@2CynicAl65) January 1, 2024
Don't wanna be a fake punk rocker.
Don't wanna sell my soul to the commies.
Then pose like I'm a trendy zombie...... https://t.co/EZ1RMKTapW
If we're going to change the lyrics to their songs, might as well strive for accuracy.
Fun fact: Billie is usually the feminine version of William. I went to school with a girl named Billie Sue.
— Kevin Barnard (@KevyB1990) January 1, 2024
More fun facts: Green Day sucks. https://t.co/eJhgYgfc0m
Maybe Armstrong will announce his transition next New Year's Eve.
Aww, that's adorable.
— Blue State Snooze (@BlueSnoozeBlue) January 1, 2024
Green Day actually thinks they're relevant. https://t.co/Oh3tR7lLTm
Look, let's be honest. You don't get invited to perform on Ryan Seacrest's show if there is anything remotely resembling punk about you. You get invited to perform if nothing at all you do or say will be controversial to the corporate overlords at ABC or Disney.
He sounds "vaccinated." 😂🤣😂 https://t.co/Y0ktI3154r
— Tired of being politically correct (@USBornNRaised) January 1, 2024
HA. Almost certainly. And quintuple boosted. Because THAT'S punk, LOL.
We also remember when Green Day demanded that people going to their shows be vaccinated.
🚨 NOTE: Due to the recent spike in the Delta variant, and because it’s indoors, we’ve been asked to do this as a fully vaccinated show. ID & proof of vaccination will be required for entry for ALL attendees. No exceptions. 🚨 https://t.co/SLgXFtKog5 pic.twitter.com/IME6wflDb3
— Green Day (@GreenDay) July 19, 2021
Were their concerts sponsored by Pfizer too?
Imagine being so desperate for money that the once "rebellious" bands of yesterday are now government shills today. Pathetic losers. https://t.co/soUi4a4hFR
— Hypnotic (@RealHypnotic1) January 1, 2024
Except, as we've said, Green Day was never rebellious. Not for a second of their entire engineered career.
— The Right To Bear Memes (@grandoldmemes) January 1, 2024
OUCH.
I thought Green Day was a climate holiday celebrated by the commies.
— theRoddick (@OriginalRoddick) January 1, 2024
LOL. That'll be their next show. An Earth Day fundraiser for AOC and Greta Thunberg.
If you are conservative, you are the counter culture. You are punk rock.
— Matthew Marsden (@matthewdmarsden) January 1, 2024
Embrace it.
People should say things like this more often. It has the benefit of being true while also really pissing off the leftists who think they're still the 'rebels.'
Or, in the words of an ACTUAL punk rock legend ...
Johnny Rotten of The Sex Pistols pic.twitter.com/u8v8KFUn7N
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 4, 2022
Oh, but it's true, Johnny Rotten. Every word of it.
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