Roe v. Wade provided women the legal right to terminate a pregnancy in the US and has been in effect for just short of 50 years. On Friday, US justices for the Supreme Court overturned the case, meaning that over half of the states in America will now be able to ban abortion. This will in effect force millions of women into the horrifically compromising decision of having to break the law should they wish to terminate an unwanted pregnancy, and is being seen by many as a shockingly archaic step backwards for a country that considers itself the leader of the free world.

Billie Joe Armstrong responded onstage by saying “Fuck America, I’m fucking renouncing my citizenship. I’m fucking coming here” as quoted by Rolling Stone. He then went on to say “There’s just too much fucking stupid in the world to go back to that miserable fucking excuse for a country. Oh I’m not kidding. You’re going to get a lot of me in the coming days“. Check out the moment below:

#GreenDay #RoeVWade #hellamegatour
billie joe’s statement on roe vs wade at london hella mega tour last night pic.twitter.com/6cJx4oa6I1

— friendly neighborhood clikkie (@armstr0ngtyler) June 25, 2022

In recent days many musicians have taken to the stage protesting the move. With Glastonbury in particular being an obvious hotbed for revolt. In what is already going down as an iconic moment, Olivia Rodrigo invited Lily Allen on stage for a passionately euphoric rendition of Allen’s hit 2009 song “Fuck You”, addressed of course to the 5 justices of the supreme court that overturned Roe v. Wade. With tens of thousands screaming the sentiment back at the tops of their voices, there was overwhelming support in the crowd for what made for a particularly impactful and moving moment at the festival. Others voicing their condemnation of the supreme court included; Phoebe Bridgers, Meghan The Stallion, Kendrick Lamar, Billie Eilish, and IDLES to name a few.

You can catch Green Day at their remaining UK shows at Marlay Park in Dublin on June 27 and Bellahouston Park in Glasgow on June 29, and you can get your tickets here.

RAK studio London pic.twitter.com/rlPiTmTe4V

— Green Day (@GreenDay) December 19, 2021

Some fans however have started to stir the pot of hype and come up with their own theories of the meaning behind the clip. At one point in the clip, the number “1972” can be spotted flashing on screen. “1972? 50th birthday special?” commented one fan, referencing the fact that the bands’ 3 core members; Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool were all born in 1972. Possibly alluding to a great big half-century celebration for them all wrapped up neatly in a bunch of old and new Green Day recordings? Who knows?

This wouldn’t make the only moment of reflection for the band in recent months. Only a few weeks ago the band put out The BBC Sessions, a retrospective take on music recorded between 1994 and 2001. In a description taken from the band’s merch store here, they explain, “Green Day would visit the BBC’s Maida Vale studios in London four times and record live sessions for Radio 1’s “evening show” and its popular DJ Steve Lamacq” adding, “this compilation documents those sessions, and includes many of the band’s hits including “when i come around”, “basket case”, “brain stew/jaded” and “minority”.

GO GO GO!! BBC Sessions (featuring songs recorded between ’94-01) is out now https://t.co/oTzkxK1Lds pic.twitter.com/FIdcbz8e6V

— Green Day (@GreenDay) December 10, 2021

There has also been a new line of merch released to celebrate the 30^th birthday of their sophomore LP Kerplunk. See the store here, although if you’re after anything more exciting than a t-shirt with the old cover on the front, and a reissue of the CD… I wouldn’t bother.

The band are also STILL embarking on their massive “Hella Mega Tour” with pop-punk neighbours Fall Out Boy, and the ever tongue and cheek Weezer. With the UK dates still yet to come you can find information on dates here. See below the remaining European dates for the tour beginning next summer:

19/06/2022 – Ernst-Happel Stadion – Vienna – Austria
21/06 – Antwerps Sportpaleis – Antwerp – Belgium
22/06 – Stadspark – Groningen – Netherlands
24/06 – London Stadium – London – UK
25/06 – John Smith’s Stadium – Huddersfield – UK
27/06 – Venue TBA – Dublin – Ireland
29/06 – Bellahouston Park – Glasgow – UK
02/07 – La Defense Arena – Paris – France

US dates haven’t been changed and they still go ahead for this summer. The UK and EU tour has been pushed to 2022. The statement shared on Twitter says: “Europe + UK – this past year has been chaotic to say the very least, and while we hoped we’d be able to make the Hella Mega Tour a reality for you this summer, COVID had other plans. With that being said, your shows will now be happening in 2022. Your tickets are good for the new dates, so make sure you hold onto them!”.

An update on Hella Mega Europe/UK – new dates at https://t.co/SgfTswSC50 pic.twitter.com/uADsgEuCkv

— Hella Mega (@HellaMegaTour) April 28, 2021

Australia and New Zealand dates have also been cancelled for this November. An update on social media says: “Australia and New Zealand, we’re beyond bummed to announce that the upcoming Hella Mega dates in November have been cancelled. We kept trying to put this piece of the puzzle together, but unfortunately it’s just not possible due to the uncertainty of the government Covid-19 travel restrictions, mass gatherings and most importantly for the safety of our fans, crew and staff”. 

Some fans replied on Twitter with serious concerns regarding US tour going ahead : “I want to see this concert more than anything. I have tickets to multiple shows. But seriously. Just cancel. It’s a mess. Try again in couple years. There is no way you’re getting all these people in a stadium anytime soon”. Others added: “pls consider postponing the us dates too! even being vaccinated i don’t feel safe in a stadium (and i’m sure others feel that way too). i still want to see y’all and not have to get a refund or sell my tickets, but can we pls wait until it’s for sure safe for everyone”.

See new dates for the UK and Europe Hella Mega Tour below. For those who have not purchased the tickets yet, head over here.

19/06/2022 – Ernst-Happel Stadion – Vienna – Austria
21/06 – Antwerps Sportpaleis – Antwerp – Belgium
22/06 – Stadspark – Groningen – Netherlands
24/06 – London Stadium – London – UK
25/06 – John Smith’s Stadium – Huddersfield – UK
27/06 – Venue TBA – Dublin – Ireland
29/06 – Bellahouston Park – Glasgow – UK
02/07 – La Defense Arena – Paris – France