British viewers hoping to watch punk band Green Day perform ahead of this year’s Super Bowl have been left bitterly disappointed.
The rock group delivered an explosive pre-game performance at Super Bowl LX, treating fans at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara to a medley of their greatest tracks, dropping an unexpected expletive along the way.
The punk veterans performed Holiday, Boulevard of Broken Dreams, and “American Idiot during the opening ceremony, with the latter featuring the unaltered lyric “the subliminal mind-f*** America.”
Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong addressed the crowd following the set, shouting: “Welcome to the Bay! It’s Super Bowl LX!”
Channel 5’s Super Bowl coverage has sparked outrage
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CHANNEL 5
The band refrained from making political statements during the performance itself, despite their well-documented criticism of the Trump administration.
Their set opened with an instrumental rendition of Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) before launching into the more energetic numbers from their 2005 record American Idiot.
The performance saw several NFL legends take to the stage alongside Mr Armstrong, bassist Mike Dirnt, and drummer Tré Cool, with Tom Brady, Jerry Rice, Eli Manning, and Peyton Manning all making appearances.
However, those watching in the UK on Channel 5 had to settle for commentary from presenters Dermot O’Leary and Sam Quek alongside pundits Logan Ryan and Maurice Jones-Drew, with the broadcaster failing to air any of Green Day’s set.
Dermot O’Leary and Sam Quek fronted the broadcaster’s coverage
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CHANNEL 5
The decision sparked anger among those watching at home, many of whom flocked to social media to express their dismay.
One X user fumed: “F*** you channel 5. F*** you. I try to watch the Green Day Super Bowl opening but your stupid a**es are just waffling over the music. I can’t watch it any other way in the UK so you lot are the only option and I can’t even see Green Day. F*** you.”
A second similarly blasted: “Why isn’t channel 5 showing Green Day at Super Bowl???? Shameful of channel 5… Nobody wants to listen to O’Leary prattle on.”
“I only put the superbowl on to watch green day only for channel 5 not to broadcast it,” a third disappointed fan weighed in. (sic)
Green Day’s entire set wasn’t broadcast to British viewers
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GETTY
While a fourth hit out: “@channel5_tv what a p**s take of a company. Chatting s**t for 40 minutes and not showing any of green day. The only reason a lot of people even decided to watch and you’ve ignored it to have the same 3 clips repeated.”
A fifth echoed: “Well f*** that! Watching #SuperBowl on channel 5 and thru decide instead of showing #GreenDay performing to have Dermot whatever his name is chatting s**t instead!!”
“Absolute joke that Sky and Channel 5 didn’t show Green Day #SuperBowl,” a sixth pointed out, while a seventh slammed: “@channel5_tv not showing Green Day at Superbowl. So out of touch with what viewers want to see. Nah we’ll listen to pundits talking rubbish instead.” (sic)
The pre-game performance followed Mr Armstrong’s pointed remarks at a Spotify-sponsored Super Bowl event on Friday evening, where he directed a message at immigration enforcement officers.
Green Day fans have slammed the broadcaster
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X
“To all the Ice agents out there, wherever you are,” Mr Armstrong declared from the stage. “Quit your s***ty-a*s job. Quit that s***ty job you have.
“Because when this is over — and it will be over at some point in time — Kristi Noem, Stephen Miller, JD Vance, Donald Trump, they’re gonna drop you like a bad f***ing habit. Come on this side of the line.”
The frontman has been an outspoken critic of the current administration throughout the band’s career.
The Super Bowl’s musical lineup featured several other prominent artists alongside the Bay Area trio. Charlie Puth performed the national anthem, whilst Brandi Carlile sang America the Beautiful, and Coco Jones delivered Lift Every Voice and Sing.
