Green Day dedicates “American Idiot” song to Elon Musk at recent Johannesburg show

At their recent concert in Johannesburg, South Africa on January 19, punk rock veterans Green Day put a topical spin on their hit song “American Idiot.” During the performance, frontman Billie Joe Armstrong customized a key lyric to reference Elon Musk, the tech entrepreneur who was born in nearby Pretoria.

Instead of the original lyrics, Armstrong sang “I’m not part of an Elon agenda,” modifying the song to reference the South African-born businessman. Musk, who became a U.S. citizen in 2002, is widely known as one of the world’s wealthiest individuals and a prominent figure in technology and business. He currently serves as the administrator of the newly established non-federal executive department, the Department of Government Efficiency.

This lyric change represents another instance of Green Day adapting their music to comment on current events and local connections during their live performances.