Green Day Plays 'Basket Case' on Top of an Ice Cream Truck to Promote New Movie 'Nimrods'
Green Day staged a surprise pop-up performance outside San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 24, 2026, in Gallagher Square, the plaza outside Petco Park. Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong climbed atop a Mister Freezie's ice cream truck branded with the film's title and launched into the band's 1994 classic "Basket Case," with bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool joining shortly after. The stunt was staged to promote the band's upcoming coming-of-age film "Nimrods," according to NME.
The Scene: Truck-Top Performance, Ice Cream, and Cassette Tapes
After the song, Armstrong tossed ice cream, T-shirts, and cassette tapes into the crowd. All three members then climbed into the truck and personally handed out ice cream to fans on site. Film stars Mason Thames ("The Black Phone") and Jenna Fischer ("The Office"), along with director and screenwriter Lee Kirk, were on hand to watch.
About 'Nimrods' and Its Soundtrack
"Nimrods" was developed by Kirk in collaboration with Green Day. The story follows three young musicians on a road trip from Kansas City to Los Angeles after mistakenly believing their band landed an opening slot on a Green Day New Year's Eve show. The plot draws from Green Day's own experience living out of a touring van before the release of 1994's "Dookie," while the title borrows from the band's 1997 album "Nimrod." The cast also includes Ignacio Diaz-Silverio, Keen Ruffalo, Mckenna Grace, Fred Armisen, Bobby Lee, and Sean Gunn.
The film's soundtrack drops Thursday, July 31, 2026, featuring 22 songs spanning Green Day's career, including the new track "I'm Never Gonna R.I.P.," plus four previously unreleased live recordings captured at the Palladium in Los Angeles for scenes in the film. The soundtrack also includes music from The Paradox, Ultra Q, Mckenna Grace, and Analog Dogs.
- 📅 Limited UK theatrical release: Tuesday, August 11, 2026
- 📅 US theatrical release: Friday, August 14, 2026
- 💿 Soundtrack release: Thursday, July 31, 2026