Green Day Gets Political, Invokes Sabbath and Petty at Coachella


Green Day delivered a triumphant headlining set at the Coachella festival in Indio, California last night.

Somewhat surprisingly, the performance marked Green Day’s Coachella debut, though frontman Billie Joe Armstrong memorably cameoed with the Replacements in 2014. Green Day wasted little time establishing their place in Coachella lore, offering up a powerhouse set list made up of decades worth of hits.

The political punks began their performance with “American Idiot,” the title track from their Grammy winning 2004 album. Though the song was originally designed as a rebuke of George W. Bush’s Iraq War politics, the band updated the tune to take aim at Donald Trump, with Armstrong notably declaring “I’m not a part of a MAGA agenda.”

READ MORE: Billie Joe Armstrong Joins Go-Go’s at Coachella

It was one of several political messages during Green Day’s set. Later, while performing “Jesus of Suburbia,” Armstrong sang “Running away from pain like the kids from Palestine,” a reference to that country’s ongoing conflict with Israel.

Despite these references to major current events, Green Day was careful not to totally bog down their performance with political commentary. The set list – which you can see in its entirety below – included hits from throughout their career, including “Holiday,” “Longview,” “Welcome to Paradise,” “Basket Case” and their most recent single, “One Eyed Bastard.” The group also mixed in brief tributes to a pair of classic rock acts during the set – Black Sabbath’s famous “Iron Man” riffs were added to “Hitchin’ a Ride,” while Green Day played the intro to Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin’” before launching into “Wake Me Up When September Ends.”

Coachella was the first of several major festivals which Green Day will headline this year. The band is also scheduled to perform at Welcome to Rockville, BottleRock, Minnesota Yacht Club and Oceans Calling.

Watch Green Day Play ‘American Idiot’ at Coachella 2025

Watch Green Day Play ‘When I Come Around’ at Coachella 2025

Watch Green Day Play ‘Wake Me Up When September Ends’ at Coachella 2025

Green Day, 4/12/25 Coachella Set List
1. “American Idiot”
2. “Holiday”
3. “Know Your Enemy”
4. “Boulevard of Broken Dreams”
5. “One Eyed Bastard”
6. “Longview”
7. “Welcome to Paradise”
8. “Hitchin’ a Ride”
9. “Brain Stew”
10. “St. Jimmy”
11. “21 Guns”
12. “Minority”
13. “Basket Case”
14. “When I Come Around”
15. “Wake Me Up When September Ends”
16. “Jesus of Suburbia”
17. “Bobby Sox”
18. “Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)”

Greatest Coachella Rock Performances





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Wesley Scott

Wesley Scott is a rock music aficionado and seasoned journalist who brings the spirit of the genre to life through his writing. With a focus on both classic and contemporary rock, Wesley covers everything from iconic band reunions and concert tours to deep dives into rock history. His articles celebrate the legends of the past while also shedding light on new developments, such as Timothee Chalamet's portrayal of Bob Dylan or Motley Crue’s latest shows. Wesley’s work resonates with readers who appreciate rock's rebellious roots, offering a blend of nostalgia and fresh perspectives on the ever-evolving scene.

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