Punk rock trio green Day announced the cancellation days after Russia declared war on Ukraine.
Prior to the ongoing conflict, Green Day was slated to hold a concert in Moscow on May 29.
The show is supposed to be a kickoff, preceding a tour of Europe in June.
The band wrote on their Instagram stories: “With heavy hearts, in light of current events we feel it is necessary to cancel our upcoming show in Moscow in Spartak Stadium. We are aware that this moment is not about stadium rock shows, it’s so much bigger than that. But we also know that rock and roll is forever and we feel confident there will be a time and a place for us to return in the future. Refunds available at the point of purchase. Stay safe.”
While Green Day did not comment beyond their statement cancelling their shows, they are the biggest musical act so far to withdraw from playing in Russia.
Activist punk rock group Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova and singer Stevie Nicks are among the most outspoken against the war in Ukraine.
Nicks compared Russian president Vladimir Putin to Nazi’s Hitler when she said “This is Hitler coming back to haunt us. In one evening, until now, an entire sovereign country has been full-on invaded.”
Meanwhile Tolokonnikova was more direct when she said in a Rolling Stone interview, “F**k Putin. I hope he dies soon.”
Putin has since been “near-universally condemned for the invasion, which has resulted in economic sanctions against Russia from the U.S., Europe and other countries worldwide,” Rolling Stone wrote.