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Green Day singer seeking treatment for substance abuse following expletive-filled rant

 

Matilda Battersby
Monday 24 September 2012 20:12 EDT
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Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day
Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day (Rex Features)

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Following an expletive-filled onstage rant during a Las Vegas music festival at the weekend, lead singer of nineties punk band Green Day has been admitted to rehab.

A statement on the band’s website reads: “Billie Joe [Armstrong] is seeking treatment for substance abuse.”

It apologises “to those who were offended” by singer’s words during the iHeartRadio Festival, adding: “We regretfully must postpone some of our upcoming promotional appearances”.

Armstrong, 40, became angry after organisers allegedly cut the band’s set short on Friday.

A sign appeared onstage saying they had one minute left to perform to which the frontman responded: “Let me tell you something, I've been around since f****ing 198-f***ing-8. And you're gonna give me one f***ing minute? You've gotta be f***ing kidding me! You're f***ing kidding me. What the f***! I'm not f***ing Justin Bieber, you motherf***ers!”

He was described by onlookers as "totally out of control" and a video of his performance his since gone viral on YouTube.

The statement on Green Day's website made it clear that their set "was not cut short" during the festival.

The band responsible for nineties smash-hit album Dookie are on a promotional tour for their three-part album ¡Uno!, ¡Dos!, ¡Tre! the first part of which was released this month.

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