Green Day play surprise gig in central London pub

Green Day played a surprise gig in a central London pub on Thursday, shocking punters.

Tommy McGuinness, bar manager of The Marquis, near Covent Garden and Trafalgar Square, said he was approached in the week to ask if a "big US band" could play at the venue.

"It was a bit of a whirlwind to be honest," Mr McGuinness told BBC London. "Turns out Billie Joe loves the pub.

"It's the smallest place that Green Day have ever played."

Mr McGuinness said he was told the "big US band" wanted to play on a specific day at the venue, but he had to tell the record label that he had another band booked in.

"I've always been a fan of them, so it was double special that way. It was bizarre, mental, but brilliant."

The landlord said his pub was chosen because the band's lead vocalist and guitarist follows it on Instagram.

"We've got some great unsigned artists that always play the pub, so I'm always streaming that," he said. "And little did I know that Billy Joe Armstrong from Green Day, was watching these videos."

Mr McGuinness said the gig was meant to be secret but "the cat got out the bag" and a lot of people came down to the pub.

"We was at capacity early doors," he said. "I think they were queueing to Trafalgar Square from us, so it was bizarre.

"Even the ones that didn't get in seemed to lap it up. It was a wonderful atmosphere."

He said that around 80 people were able to watch the gig, adding: "Everybody in the pub I can vouch for had the time of their life."