American rock band Green Day abruptly exited the stage during a performance Wednesday night due to an unauthorized drone that flew over the stadium. The band was performing at Comerica Park in Detroit, as part of their Saviors Tour, which kicked off in Spain in May. The Detroit Police Department confirmed to Fox News Digital that “Green Day was on stage at the time. They were escorted off the stage.”
The incident occurred during the band’s performance of “Longview,” the fifth song of the night, while they were playing through their iconic 1994 album “Dookie.” Concertgoers on social media noted that, “All of a sudden, you just see everybody vanishing. People running offstage, some type of fan came onstage,” said Brian Gorie.
Videos posted online showed the band members running offstage in the middle of the concert. On the concert jumbotron, lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong paused and looked confused. He stopped singing for a moment, and he sprinted offstage with the other Green Day musicians. A sign appeared on the video screens saying “Show Pause. Please, standby for details.”
After about a 10-minute delay, the band returned to the stage and resumed playing to an estimated 30,000 fans. “How you doing?” frontman Billie Joe Armstrong said upon the band’s return. “We’re gonna pick up where we left off.” The band did not explain the delay to fans at the show.
The band’s set included performances of both “Dookie” and “American Idiot” in their entirety, a treat for their devoted fans. The concertgoers were treated to a night of energetic rock, and the crowd was engaged throughout the band’s 2 and a half hour performance, which included no slow moments.
Armstrong, however, did get a little political. He changed the lyrics of “American Idiot” in the second verse from “I’m not a part of a redneck agenda” to “I’m not part of a MAGA agenda.”
He also encouraged people to vote and try to avoid propaganda. “No more propaganda. No more pundits. No more BS. No more left, no more right, no more being confused. All these political parties. All this BS. They’re just propaganda that gets put on our phones from algorithms and corporations. They’re trying to make us think and steal our minds.”
“Tonight is not about that. Tonight is about us. Tonight is not a political party. Tonight isn’t even a party. It’s a celebration!” The celebration ended shortly after 11:00 p.m. as the 40,000 fans filtered out after enjoying a long evening of energetic rock.
The Drone Incident
According to authorities, an individual was detained for flying a drone into Comerica Park and disrupting Green Day’s concert. The Detroit Police Department confirmed with Fox News Digital that the case has been referred to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which could levy a hefty fine against the individual. Jim Thorburn, a retired officer and certified drone operator, emphasized the importance of following drone regulations.
“This is exactly why we can’t have nice things. This is why there are so many rules. People often question the need for numerous regulations, but then something utterly foolish like this happens, which I presume they didn’t realize was prohibited,” Thorburn commented.
Thorburn explained that the FAA mandates a three-nautical-mile buffer zone and a minimum altitude of 3,000 feet for gatherings exceeding 30,000 individuals.
“Since a drone’s maximum altitude is 400 feet, by abiding by these guidelines, you shouldn’t encounter any problems,” Thorburn said. “The fact that the operator was caught so quickly suggests to me they were likely inexperienced.”
Green Day’s Saviors Tour
Green Day’s Saviors Tour has been met with enthusiasm from fans around the world. The tour is a celebration of the band’s 30th anniversary of “Dookie” and 20th anniversary of “American Idiot,” two of their most popular and critically acclaimed albums. The tour has been a resounding success, with sold-out shows in major cities across the United States and Europe.
Looking Ahead
The incident at Comerica Park serves as a reminder of the importance of following drone regulations. While the drone caused a brief interruption to the Green Day concert, the band was able to quickly resume their performance. The show continued with no further incidents, and fans enjoyed a night of music and celebration.
The band is expected to continue their tour with shows in Los Angeles and San Diego in the coming weeks. They will then head to Europe to perform a series of sold-out shows. Green Day remains one of the most popular and influential rock bands in the world.
