Green Day have been banned from the playlists of two radio stations in Las Vegas after frontman Billie Joe Armstrong reportedly branded the city “the worst shithole in America”.
The singer made the comment while Green Day were on stage performing in San Francisco, California, on 20 September, according to US media reports.
“We don’t take no shit from people like John f***ing Fisher who sold out the Oakland A’s to Las f***ing Vegas,” Armstrong was quoted as saying by People. “I hate Las Vegas. It’s the worst shithole in America.”
Armstrong, who was born in Oakland, was apparently referring to John Fisher, the current owner of the Oakland A’s, a team based in the city in California for more than 100 years.
In April 2023, a planned relocation to the Las Vegas Strip was announced, to what will be the New Las Vegas Stadium in Nevada, due to open in 2028. The controversial move has been met with some criticism from fans.
Oakland Athletics fans held signs at the team’s final game in the city at the weekend. Pic: AP/Lindsey Wasson
‘We’re pulling the plug’
Now, Las Vegas radio stations KOMP 92.3 and X107.5 have said they will no longer play Green Day’s music.
“KOMP 92.3 has pulled any and all Green Day from our playlist. It’s not us, Billie…it’s you,” rock station KOMP 92.3 said in a post shared on Instagram.
Next to a photo of the band emblazoned with the word “BANNED”, X107.5 said it was saying “BYE BYE, BILLIE”.
The statement continued: “After Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong disrespected Las Vegas, we’re pulling the plug on ALL of their music. No more Green Day on X107.5.”
The post then invited followers to have their say.
However, it seems many fans did not agree with the decision.
“He expresses how he feels about that, and your response is to ban their music,” said one. “He wasn’t wrong. If you want to lean into newer music, that’s fine. Just don’t blame it on the politics of the artists, or you’ll quickly run out of artists to play.”
“A punk musician expressing himself over sports teams moving and you’re sensitive about it. Yeah. Ok,” said another.
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The Oakland A’s played their final game in the city at the weekend. They will relocate to Sacramento for three seasons, with an option for a fourth, before the relocation to Las Vegas, according to the Associated Press news agency.
After the last game in Oakland, Fisher released a statement to fans saying the decision to depart had been “very hard” – and bosses had tried to find a new home in the area, but “came up short”.
“I can tell you this from the heart: we tried,” he said. “Staying in Oakland was our goal… and we failed to achieve it. And for that I am genuinely sorry.”