Bay Area punk icons Green Day set an electrifying tone for Super Bowl LX on Sunday night, launching the game's opening ceremony at Levi's Stadium with their signature anti-war anthem "Holiday." The performance, part of a celebration of the NFL's 60th Super Bowl, saw the trio-Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt and Tré Cool-ignite the crowd with a powerful and energetic set before the Patriots and Seahawks took the field.
Opening with the politically charged punk rock staple from their 2004 album American Idiot, Green Day's rendition of "Holiday" resonated as a bold statement that bridged musical nostalgia with contemporary relevance. The song's blistering riffs and defiant lyrics immediately energized fans in the stadium and millions watching the broadcast nationwide.
From there, the band delivered a medley of their most iconic hits. They segued into the yearning anthem "Boulevard Of Broken Dreams" and culminated the set with the raucous and confrontational "American Idiot," turning the opening ceremony into a showcase of their enduring influence on alternative rock and cultural discourse.
The performance drew widespread attention both for its musical impact and its political undertones, aligning with Green Day's long history of activism and critique of war and establishment politics. "Holiday," in particular, has long been recognized not just as a rock hit but as an anti-war protest song that critiques power and conflict, giving added weight to its selection for such a global stage.
In addition to the music, the event highlighted a weekend of high-profile entertainment: Charlie Puth performed the national anthem, Brandi Carlile delivered "America The Beautiful," and R&B star Coco Jones offered a stirring rendition of "Lift Every Voice And Sing" ahead of Bad Bunny's historic halftime show as the first solo Latin artist to headline the Super Bowl.
As Green Day's opening salvo set the bar for Super Bowl LX, their performance stood as both a celebration of their storied career and a vivid reminder of the enduring power of music to provoke thought and unite audiences on one of the world's largest stages.
