Frontman Billie Joe Armstrong had never written a dance song before “Kill the DJ,” but bassist Mike Dirnt was adamant about it. Armstrong commented in a Rolling Stone article:

Mike asked me to write a song with a four-on-the-floor rhythm. I’d never done it before.We were trying to figure out how to make dance music without turning into a dance band.

Armstrong goes on to speak about the lyrics, telling journalists that this song is not about killing any particular DJ, but more about the American governments refusal to improve the conditions of this country.

It blows your mind and pisses you off. It’s a song about being drunk, going through this chaos, feeling fucked up and all you want to do is get more drunk. I don’t even want to know about it anymore.

“Kill the DJ” was very well received by critics. Zane Lowe even put it at #2 for his 100 Hottest Tracks of 2012 list.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jW7VhkNqjnc
The official music video was released on September 4, 2012. Samuel Bayer took the lead on direction. Bayer was more than familiar with the band at this point after directing every video for American Idiot.