Green Day Fans React After Band Rushed Offstage Over Security Concerns

Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors

A Green Day concert in Detroit, Michigan came to an abrupt halt on Wednesday, September 4.

The “Good Riddance” hitmakers took the stage at Comerica Park and only played for “about 20 minutes” before being rushed offstage, according to an attendee who posted about it on social media. As Green Day was performing their 1994 Dookie cut “Longview,” the band departed the stage.

According to a report from TMZ, someone from backstage had directed the band’s bassist Mike Dirnt offstage. The band’s lead vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong, along with the rest of the band, followed shortly after.

Fans reportedly kept singing the song, even after the band had left the stage. Moments later, a message appeared on the screen, reading “SHOW PAUSE. PLEASE STANDBY FOR DETAILS.” Green Day returned to the stage about 10 minutes later, and as they performed “Welcome to Paradise,” Armstrong told the audience “there ain’t no motherf**ker that’s gonna stop us, I’ll tell you that.”

The Detroit News reported that the reason for the halt was because a man had allegedly attempted to fly a drone into the venue. The man was later detained. After the concert, Green Day took to X (formerly Twitter) to apologize for the delay in the show.

The statement — which has since been deleted — from the band was met mostly with gratitude from fans, many of whom said they were happy to hear Green Day perform live, chaos aside.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of Green Day’s American Idiot album, which spawned hits like its title track as well as “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” and “Wake Me Up When September Ends.” Green Day will release a special edition of the album on October 25.