Punk duo Bob Vylan have sparked significant controversy after their politically charged performances led to police investigations and cancelled international appearances. Despite this, the band announced a surprise gig tonight, Friday, July 11, at Bristol’s Thekla venue, their second last-minute show this week following a performance in London.
Avon and Somerset Police are investigating the band over their Glastonbury Festival set, during which frontman Bobby Vylan, born Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, led the crowd in chanting “Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)” during a livestreamed set. In addition, the Metropolitan Police are probing alleged statements from a video of their May performance supporting Iggy Pop at Alexandra Palace, where Bobby Vylan appeared to say, “Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF.”
Following their recent London gig, the band posted “where next?” on their Instagram, signaling their intention to keep playing despite mounting backlash. During their Wednesday performance at the 100 Club in Oxford Street, Bobby Vylan initially asked the crowd to stop chanting “IDF” to avoid further trouble, then led chants of “Free, free Palestine.” The pair concluded the set holding a Palestinian flag and expressed their support for the Palestinian people, emphasizing resilience amid hardship and criticizing political and media focus away from the broader issues.
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The fallout from their Glastonbury set has been significant. Not only have Bob Vylan’s US visas been revoked, affecting their planned tour, but they have also been dropped from the Radar festival headline slot in Manchester and an upcoming German venue show. Their agency, United Talent Agency (UTA), reportedly severed ties and removed Bob Vylan from their official roster.
The band has responded by stating they are being “targeted for speaking up.” Despite the controversy, they are still scheduled to appear at Boardmasters Festival in Newquay, Cornwall, this August.
In the aftermath, The Times reported that senior BBC staff, including music director Lorna Clarke, stepped back from their roles following the broadcaster’s decision to air Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set live. This set was followed by Irish rap group Kneecap’s performance, which itself attracted scrutiny. Kneecap are also under investigation after encouraging fans to “start a riot” outside a bandmate’s court hearing and leading crowds in chants against Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who criticized their festival appearance.
Formed in 2017, Bob Vylan has built a reputation for confronting political and social issues such as racism, masculinity, and class in their music. This recent controversy highlights the volatile intersection of politics, art, and public discourse in the UK music scene.