Green Day. Photo: Kelly Owen
Bille Joe Armstrong on stage at the UC Theatre with Green Day on Thursday Oct. 20. Photo: Kelly Owen

They famously got their start in the late 1980s playing local venues like 924 Gilman and Berkeley Square, and Thursday the mega-band that is Green Day made a triumphant return to their roots by playing the newly renovated UC Theatre on University Avenue.

The concert was a sell-out, as you might expect, and security, including some provided by Berkeley Police, was tight.

Almost as soon as the band took to the stage at 9 p.m. lead singer Billie Joe Armstrong was referencing the band’s local credentials.

“The Representative from Alameda County has the floor,” he hollered, slightly altering a line from one of the band’s biggest hits, Holiday, which was next up on the slate. (Holiday is from the 2004 American Idiot album which went on to be adapted for the stage by Berkeley Rep in 2009.) A little later, after playing a couple of other standards, Armstrong reminded the capacity crowd about the group’s origins to much applause, shouting: “We’re fucking East Bay boys!”

If you were at the concert, tell us how you liked it in the comments (now that we have them back).

Kelly Owen took these photographs for Berkeleyside.

Green Day. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day got its start in Berkeley in the late 1980s and early 1990s. They were back on Thursday Oct. 20 at the newly reopened UC Theatre. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day. Photo: Kelly Owen
Waiting for Green Day. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day. Photo: Kelly Owen
The Green Day concert in Berkeley was a sell-out. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day. Photo: Kelly Owen
Billie Armstrong referenced the band’s local roots. Photo: Kelly Owen
Billie Armstrong referenced the band’s local roots. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day drummer Tré Cool on stage in Berkeley. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day on stage at the UC Theatre in Berkeley. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day’s bass guitarist Mike Dirnt. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day’s bass guitarist Mike Dirnt. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day. Photo: Kelly Owen
Green Day vocalist Billie Joe Armstrong. Photo: Kelly Owen

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Tracey Taylor is co-founder of Berkeleyside and co-founder and editorial director of Cityside, the nonprofit parent to Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside. Before launching Berkeleyside, Tracey wrote for...