Leaderboard

This is admittedly a tricky matter, given how there are various degrees to this. They also played in Thailand and Venezuela in 2010, both authoritarian regimes at the time with a variety of human rights violations and press censorship to boast. In fact, if we go down that rabbit hole, the whole of South America is a bit tricky on that front. It's not just sun, cocktails and party beaches down there. Just look at abortion rights, political/gang violence, corruption etc. etc. I still think playing in South America is on the whole justified, but it's hard to decide where to draw the line. Granted, the state of the UAE is a particularly vile example of flagrant human rights violations, right up there with the likes of Saudi Arabia and Qatar (boo FIFA). It's unthinkable that we should still have countries in 2024 that allow for public executions, merely for one's sexuality, sometimes even by stoning, but here we are... I suppose the only worse optics the band could have achieved is by playing in Israel or Russia right now. But I agree, as a headline this makes me squirm, if nothing else. In general I'm honestly quite disgusted by how both oil-state airlines and Dubai are seemingly successfully marketing themselves to western holiday-goers. Under the glossy facade they're still horribly repressive and unequal regimes with few to no minority rights. Not to mention the absurdity of having a city with skyscrapers, huge swimming pools, artificial beaches and even an indoor skiing resort, erected in the middle of the Arabian desert, an area otherwise plagued by severe poverty, famine and drought. The old fishing village is actually quite interesting and has some history, but all the flashy bits built around it over the years, to attract business and tourists feel vapid and soulless, almost like a disneyland capitalist fever dream.

Alternative Airplay- stays at 1 Mainstream Rock Airplay- 2, down from 1 Rock and Alternative Airplay- stays at 1 Canada Rock- stays at 1 Hot Rock and Alternative Songs- 35, up from 38

Nobody should be happy about Green Day performing in Dubai. If you ignore all the punk elements Green Day still have in their system (or whatever is left of that today), this is just money talking, big corporate move that I thought this band would never do and it's sad to see how they're willing to chase the bag and sacrifice their beliefs at the same time. Also no one should be expecting them to perform any songs that might be too offensive. This is gonna be Greatest Hits 2.0 show to play it as safe as possible and this show isn't place for protests. I'd love to see them whip out Bobby Sox on this one, but that is absolutely not gonna happen. If you want to protest, you do it by NOT attending in show like this and showing middle finger to said event, not DURING the show by screaming how it's okay to be gay in 2025. That wouldn't achieve anything. Just extremely disappointed by this. Fucking hell man this sucks.

Kind of lame to play a country that oppresses LGBT+ and women to that extent and is built on slave labour tbh. If nothing else it seems like a terrible PR move

Does nobody have an issue with the fact that they are playing a country where Homosexually is a criminal offence ? Being homosexual is officially prohibited in the UAE which Dubai is a part of. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_the_United_Arab_Emirates#:~:text=Both civil law and sharia,the partner or the guardian. I am a bit disappointed by this one. Unless Green Day use this as a platform to advocate for equality .

On this day 6 years ago (7 May 2018), The Longshot played the Hi-Hat in LA. 15 years ago (7 May 2009), Green Day played a small show in Berlin to promote 21st Century Breakdown. I had a bootleg DVD of this show. Used to watch it after school all the time. More photos: 19 years ago (7 May 2005), they played in Grand Rapdis, MI, on the American Idiot Tour. 22 years ago (7 May 2002), they played Bonner Springs, KS on the Pop Disaster Tour. 26 years ago (7 May 1998), Billie performed Good Riddance on Letterman. "When we have them on the show, the drummer runs around and hurts himself. Will you do that tonight?" – David Letterman

I think what I’m struggling with is this: During the Saviors promo, it was brought up in multiple interviews how well they took care of Pansy Division in the 90s and refused to play venues that wouldn’t let Pansy Division play, too. They talked a lot about the values they learned at Gilman, primarily about equality. That means something to me and is a huge point of pride for me in being a fan, as are all their progressive views and actions. That might not factor into why others are a fan and that’s totally fine, but it does for me. It is hard for me to reconcile them refusing to play a venue that won’t let a queer band open for them with now playing in a destination where queer people cannot legally exist. No, citizens are not their government, but you could argue that back in the 90s, not all people they refused to play for were homophobic — the band refused in principle, I’m sure fully knowing that some good people were missing out on a show because of it. As @MillenniumFan pointed out in their very thoughtful post, this isn’t the first time they’ve played in a problematic place, and where to draw the line here is difficult. But right now, playing in Dubai just feels like a particularly poor and hypocritical choice.

On this day (Updating thread as @solongfromthestarshas been busy today)

When they play in UAE we don't like them but the republicans do. When they sing ''MAGA'' instead of ''redneck'' we like them but the republicans doesn't. Let them do want they waaaaaant

Yeah it's nothing against anyone going to the show/ordinary residents of the country. But they're not going to UAE out of all the many countries they're not playing on this tour to play an expo "for the fans", it's for money.

This. Green Day is known for supporting women and LGBT+ rights and now they're going to earn a lot of money playing in the country where human rights are violated. It's just doesn't feel right, sorry. Of course it's their choice. Of course regular fans live there and deserve this show. But there are many countries where fans are still waiting for Green Day show and where basic human rights aren't violated.

On this day 6 years ago (5 May 2018), The Longshot played in Phoenix, AZ. Thanks to Rumpel for finding Billie's selfie from that show (the only decent photo) because I've hardly saved anything from 2017 onwards. I unfollowed Longshot a while ago and now I can't get back in to look for photos for this project. 7 years ago (5 May 2017), Green Day played in Melbourne, Australia on the Revolution Radio Tour. That girl in the centre makes the whole photo. More photos: 15 years ago, they played a short set on In Session With Zane Lowe at Maida Vale Studios. I actually remember listening to this on the radio. I got the date wrong and listened to the whole show that day just in case, so I was very excited when Green Day were actually on the following week. It was great. I've still got the cassette I recorded it on somewhere. "That one just fell out of our bums." – Tre on the Foxboro Hot Tubs "eBay!" – Billie Joe when Zane Lowe asked if he could keep his promo CD (he's actually a huge Green Day fan, so I doubt it ended up on eBay) More photos: 19 years ago, Green Day played in Columbus on the American Idiot Tour. I don't have any photos of the show, but this photoshoot was done that day. 31 years ago (5 May 1993), they played in Wigan, England. "We're Green Day, but it's time to change the pace a little bit. We're Green Grass." — Tré Cool "Tré has broken his toe, so he can't do ballet for you this evening." — Billie Joe (however, the audience member they called up to "do ballet" was unsatisfactory, so Tre did some anyway) More photos 32 years ago (5 May 1992), Green Day played the Beacon Hill Bandshell in Victoria, Canada. There are more of these fab photos taken by Sarah Kramer on Instagram And finally, 34 years ago (5 May 1990), Green Day played one of their many shows at 924 Gilman Street.

I don't like Dubai and what all they think is right, but atleast Green Day will have a great show. I am guessing Green Day is trying to play in places that they barely ever play at or have never played at before, so I guess Dubai is one of them. No matter what the beliefs are there, they just want to put on a kick ass show.

Forgot to post this one the other day from Coley O'Toole Mike with his kids blowing out candles

Hopefully Green Day will open the Dubai government's eyes. I doubt it, but it would be awesome if they played Bobby Sox. Even better play the video 👀

I guess it seems like an odd choice for them but saying no, we’re not going, would make no difference to the attitudes in the country. If they go, people hear them and look further in to them then maybe they can have some influence.

I'm very disappointed by both bands(especially gd) that they chose to play in a place like this . 😨 Next thing you know they gonna play at Israel... I know that both bands in the past they've played constantly for the upperclass exclusivly or even become like them and joined theyre parties etc, but this is too much. Its a statement from them that they decided to play in this middle age, artificial country. Maybe Donald Trump could join also....... Money does changes your values😅

@pacejunkie punk Actually, I amend my statement on it being an event — after looking into it more, “Expo City” is like a pedestrian center within Dubai that sometimes hosts events, but is open year-round to the public as like a walkable downtown. Confusingly named. I do hope the band pours this money into good causes. I don’t think they’ll be able to do much in the way of protesting or spreading their messaging *in* Dubai without getting punished, but turning around and using that money for good would help my view of the situation.

And fans like us who have been waiting for 10+ years for an opportunity!

I really hope they don't pull a Matty Healy and use their show to advocate because it won't actually change anything – the local LGBTQ+ community will just suffer for it. If we're serious about forcing change through boycotting, the whole world needs to work closely with the local community to do it. Until that happens, one band refusing to play there won't help (again, it'll probably just do more harm than good), and I don't see why the decent local people should be deprived of enjoyment because the laws suck.

On this day 6 years ago, The Longshot played the Beauty Bar in Vegas. More photos here 15 years ago, Green Day played a short set at Abbey Road Studios. More photos: 19 years ago, they played in London, Canada on the American Idiot Tour.