Billie Joe Armstrong surprised a band covering a Green Day song in a North London bar this past weekend by jumping on stage to sing.
Borderline Toxic, a self-described “heavy alt-rock band” from London, started playing “Basket Case” – from Green Day's 1994 album Dookie – during its set at Slim Jim’s Liquor Store.
Armstrong suddenly stepped up on the stage and took the mic to join the band’s lead singer Kerry Glass.
In an Instagram post, Glass called Armstrong her childhood idol. “THANK YOU, YOU LEGEND! This was the first band to get me into rock when I was 11 years old and I’m honestly just so made up brb crying/screaming/spewing.”
She added: “It’s only just sinking in that I used to always wish it was me they’d pick to get up on stage at the live gigs haha wishful thinking. Could never imagine the man himself would be getting up on our gig. I honestly couldn’t be happier.”
The venue shared a video clip on Instagram that it captioned: “We are still in shock!”
Armstrong’s surprise performance was also shared on Green Day’s official social media accounts.
“When you walk into a pub and the cover band starts playing your song,” reads the caption.
Green Day is scheduled to perform July 16 at the Quebec Summer Festival.