Billie Joe Armstrong gave a surprise concert in Berkeley with the Coverups, his side project 100% covers, performing notably Ozzy Osbourne, David Bowie and Bryan Adams.
Billie Joe Armstrong has always carried his influences as a standard, with covers being a mainstay of Green Day concerts since their very beginnings. Those influences were front and center Wednesday night, when he played a secret gig with the Coverups, an all-covers band that also features live Green Day guitarist Jason White, at the Cornerstone in Berkeley, California.
The group reportedly played a 30-song set jam-packed with hits, including several songs Armstrong previously sang with Green Day, as well as a few new releases. Highlights, seen in fan-filmed videos, include Ozzy Osbourne's “Crazy Train,” David Bowie's “Ziggy Stardust” and Bryan Adams' “Summer of '69.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-66JnAOFQKE
The rest of the setlist, according to Setlist.fm, included Nirvana's “Drain You,” the Strokes' “Last Nite,” the Go-Go's' “We Got the Beat,” the Misfits' “Where Eagles Dare” and Cheap Trick's “Surrender.” Although there was some overlap with songs already covered by Green Day, Armstrong and his acolytes favored songs that his other group performed less often, notably omitting their famous cover of “Knowledge” by Operation Ivy.
A side project since 2018
Armstrong founded the Coverups in 2018 with Green Day bassist Mike Dirnt, who plays guitar in the band, alongside Jason White, sound engineer-turned-drummer Chris Dugan and tour manager-turned-bassist Bill Schneider. Dirnt has not performed with the band since 2019. The Coverups have performed at least one concert per year since their formation, with the exception of 2020.
The group announced the Berkeley concert at 3 p.m. the same day on its Instagram page. The Coverups are also scheduled at the Fox Theater in Oakland on May 2 as part of Notes & Words, a benefit concert, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.
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