Green Day became the highest-profile North American act to cancel a Russian concert date Sunday, scrapping a May 29 date scheduled for Moscow.
The California-based group, which formed in 1987, decided to cancel its upcoming concert at Spartak Stadium in the aftermath of Russia’s invasion into Ukraine, Variety and Rolling Stone reported.
“With heavy hearts, in light of current events we feel it is necessary to cancel our upcoming show in Moscow at Spartak Stadium,” the band said in a statement. “We are aware that this moment is not about stadium rock shows, it’s much bigger than that. But we also know that rock ‘n’ roll is forever and we feel confident there will be a time and a place for us to return in the future. Stay safe.”
The concert date has already been removed from the band’s website.
After playing in Atlanta’s Shaky Knees Festival, a three-day event in Atlanta’s Central Park, on April 29, Green Day will have slightly more than a month before the group opens its international tour on June 2 in Berlin.
Green Day is the second act to cancel a show in Russia, according to Variety. Pop group AJR called off its October show on Friday, the entertainment outlet reported.