Green Day musical to close

Green Day's 'American Idiot' musical is to close on April 24.

The Broadway show - which is based on the group's concept album of the same name - is coming to an end after ticket sales went down following the departure of the punk band's singer Billie Joe Armstrong from the cast at the end of January.

However, the rocker will return to reprise his role as St. Jimmy for the production's final three weeks, beginning on April 5.

The musical ran for an impressive 421 performances at the St. James Theater and also had a run at the Berkeley Repertory Theater in California. It won two Tony Awards in 2010 and the music from the show won a Grammy in 2011.

Despite the closure, 'American Idiot' - which follows the life of disaffected youth Johnny as he flees his parents' suburban home - is going to continue as a touring production which will kick-off in the US in autumn 2011.

When the musical first came out in 2010, Billie admitted he was very proud and pleased with the production.

He said at the time: "It moves people. I think it's the same reason why you would want to go see a band play live, you know?

"It's a record that's coming to life, it's in your face, and it's a story.

"That's what 'American Idiot' does. That's what it does in the music, and that's what it does onstage."