Green Day and U2 Play The Saints Are Coming by The Skids

First of all, hats off to both Green Day and U2 for donating proceeds from their new single, "The Saints Are Coming" to Music Rising. Music Rising is a campaign founded by U2's The Edge, music producer Bob Ezrin and Gibson Guitar CEO Henry Juszkiewicz which helps to replace instruments and musical equipment that was lost during the devastating hurricanes Katrina and Rita in New Orleans.

"The Saints Are Coming" is a song new to my ears but Dave, being the punk that he is, made it very clear from the start that the Green Day and U2 collaboration is a cover by scottish punk band The Skids, which was originally released in 1978. The video for the song is now playing constantly here in the UK and I can see why some might find it a bit controversial. Politics aside, there are also rumblings around the internet about the cover itself and whether or not U2 and Green Day do the song justice.

I like both versions and I think it's great not only that they're helping out the musicians in New Orleans, but U2 and Green Day are also putting the spotlight back onto The Skids as well as punk music itself - which mainstream radio and the industry tends to ignore.

U2's Official Website
Green Day's Official Website

By: Jenny May