Dua Lipa Taps Local Legend Billie Joe Armstrong for Green Day Cover in San Francisco: ‘I Love This Band’
The pop star has performed a song by local artists on every stop of her Radical Optimism Tour.
Billie Joe Armstrong, Dua Lipa and Tré Cool during the BRIT Awards 2024 at The O2 Arena on March 02, 2024 in London, England.
At her concert in San Francisco, Dua Lipa was joined by local royalty — Billie Joe Armstrong — to perform Green Day‘s “Wake Me Up When September Ends.”
The cameo went down toward the end of the pop star’s Sunday night (Oct. 12) show at the Chase Center. Every night on her Radical Optimism Tour, Lipa has sang a cover of a local artist’s song — but this night was extra special as the frontman of her chosen band was there to perform it with her.
“Every night we do a different song, we do a surprise song, and we do a song by a local artist,” she told the crowd before Armstrong joined her on stage. “I immediately thought about San Francisco, and I thought about all of the incredible music that has come out of here. I thought about one band in particular that would be perfect tonight.”
“I love this band for so many different reasons,” Lipa continued. “I love them because of their rawness, their authenticity, the message behind it, the space it holds for people who feel like sometimes they might not belong.”
Then, as the audience erupted in excitement, the singer cheered, “Join me in welcoming the incredible Billie Joe from Green Day!” (Green Day formed in the Bay Area’s Rodeo, Calif.)
A guitar player went on to play the recognizable opening riff of “Wake Me Up,” which came out in 2004 and hit No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 the following year. As Armstrong and Lipa took turns singing lead vocals, the latter’s pop show temporarily transformed into an electric rock concert.
Lipa’s Radical Optimism Tour kicked off in November 2024. The star will have been on the road for more than a year by the time the trek concludes in December with three shows in Mexico City.
Her past locally sourced song covers have included “Royals” by Lorde in New Zealand and “One Last Time” by Ariana Grande in Miami. Armstrong isn’t the only star who’s made a cameo on the Radical Optimism trek, with Gwen Stefani joining Lipa to sing “Don’t Speak” in Los Angeles earlier in October.
Billboard’s Live Music Summit will be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 3. For tickets and more information, head here.
