Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong waved an England flag as the band kicked off their UK tour in Manchester last night (June 16).

In an apparent nod to the country's participation in the World Cup, Armstrong held the flag aloft during the US band's set.

The gig at Lancashire Country Cricket Club saw Green Day perform a career-spanning set to a huge sell-out crowd.

At one point, Armstrong was joined onstage by a fan, who then took a running jump back into the audience.

Green Day are set to perform at London's Wembley Stadium on Saturday (June 19) and the SECC in Glasgow on Monday (June 21).

(by Jason Gregory)