Coachella audiences thought they were in for just another nostalgia set on Friday night—until Billie Joe Armstrong from Green Day stepped out and cranked up the volume with The Go-Go's. There he was, grinning beside Belinda Carlisle and the rest of the classic lineup, belting out the band’s 1984 anthem ‘Head Over Heels’ to a stunned and roaring crowd. If you thought you’d seen every possible festival cameo, this one raised the bar.
For The Go-Go’s, this was not just another festival gig. Their full lineup—Belinda Carlisle, Charlotte Caffey, Jane Wiedlin, Kathy Valentine, and Gina Schock—last shared a major stage together back in 2018. The group warmed up behind closed doors at The Roxy in Los Angeles on April 9, shaking off the cobwebs and drawing a few curious diehards and industry insiders. That was just a teaser. Seeing all five of them at Coachella, energized by Billie Joe’s signature punk swagger, packed a punch that went way beyond simple nostalgia.
The band didn’t coast on just one moment. The setlist delivered all the hits: ‘We Got The Beat’ turned the field into a dance party, ‘Vacation’ had everybody swaying, and of course, ‘Our Lips Are Sealed’ had fans reliving MTV’s heyday. But the band twisted things up too—in a creative curveball, they slipped a bit of Chappell Roan’s ‘Hot to Go!’ into their classic 1981 song, showing the old guard can still keep up with the new.
If you found yourself starstruck watching Armstrong jam with The Go-Go’s, there was plenty more Coachella star power on display. Green Day, fresh from electrifying their own crowd collaboration, closed out Saturday night as headliners. Billie Joe, clearly riding the high from his surprise moment, pushed the Green Day set into full party mode.
Behind the scenes, though, not everything was picture-perfect for festivalgoers. People vented about marathon wait lines and overstressed facilities, a recurrent pain point at major festivals. Social feeds buzzed with complaints, especially from those who missed part of The Go-Go's set just trying to get through security. Still, nothing stopped the core fans—those lucky enough to edge up near the front—who will have ‘Head Over Heels’ stuck in their heads all year.
For fans stuck at home or those daunted by Coachella crowds in the desert heat, there was a digital lifeline. Both The Go-Go’s and Green Day’s sets streamed live on the Coachella 2025 YouTube channel and festival app, dropping fans right in the front row—even from a couch or halfway around the world.
The Go-Go’s story goes way back to LA’s late-’70s punk clubs, so watching them still light up a giant festival with their same do-it-yourself spirit? That’s something even long lines and festival chaos couldn’t dim. Punk, pop, and pure joy—nobody expected it, but that’s what keeps Coachella wild and worth watching.
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