Green Day Forced to Pause Detroit Concert Due to Unauthorized Drone
Green Day temporarily halted their concert at Detroit’s Comerica Park on Wednesday night due to a “potential safety issue.” During their rendition of “Longview,” the rock band ran off the stage without warning.
Billboard confirmed that an “unauthorized drone” had been spotted hovering within sight of the stage by security, who pulled the band offstage. No explanation was given to the crowd, who continued singing in the band’s absence, although a message soon appeared on the stage’s video screens that read: “Show Pause. Please standby for details.”
The band — Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tre Cool — returned 10 minutes later to resume the song. Armstrong said didn’t address why the band left, instead saying, “How you doing? We’re gonna pick up where we left off.”
Armstrong later alluded to the situation after performing “Welcome to Paradise,” telling the crowd, “Ain’t no motherfucker that’s gonna stop us. I’ll tell you that.”
Following the show, Green Day took to social media to explain the situation, writing, “Detroit! Sorry for the delay in the show tonight, stadium security had us clear the stage while they dealt with a potential safety issue. DPD quickly resolved the situation, and we were able to continue. Thanks for understanding.”
Green Day are currently out on their Saviors Tour, which continues at Coors Field in Denver on Sept. 7. This is the second time the band has been forced to stop a concert recently. In August, Green Day rushed through the conclusion of their set at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in St. Louis when a lightening storm closed in on the venue.
In October, Green Day will honor the 20th anniversary of American Idiot with a massive reissue that pairs the original 2004 “punk rock opera” with its B-sides, bonus tracks, unreleased demos, and live recordings from the era. American Idiot 20th Anniversary, out October 25 as either an 8LP/2Blu-Ray or 4CD/2Blu-ray deluxe edition, also boasts the film “Heart Like A Hand Grenade,” 35 minutes of of the band live at the BBC, and a new documentary titled “20 Years of American Idiot.”
The band has been celebrating American Idiot (and 1994’s Dookie) as part of their tour, playing the 2004 double-album in its entirety.