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UK pop duo Bob Vylan dropped from multiple festivals following ‘Death to IDF’ chant at Glastonbury

UK pop duo Bob Vylan dropped from multiple festivals following ‘Death to IDF’ chant at Glastonbury

Earlier, the group's US visas had been revoked, and United Talent Agency also severed ties with them.
04 Jul, 2025

British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan have been dropped from several music festivals in the UK and Europe following their Glastonbury performance, during which they led chants of “Free, free Palestine” and “Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces).”

Radar Festival in Manchester, where the duo were scheduled to headline this Saturday, confirmed in a statement that Bob Vylan would no longer be appearing. The group responded in an Instagram story according to the BBC: “Silence is not an option. Manchester, we will be back. We will be fine. The people of Palestine are hurting.”

Their removal from the UK lineup follows cancellations across the continent. France’s Kave Fest announced that Bob Vylan would no longer perform at the event due to growing pressure from local authorities and the band’s recent separation from their talent agency.

“In light of recent events, Bob Vylan have been dropped by their agent. The Eure department and the city of Gisors have informed us they will oppose Bob Vylan’s presence,” organisers said in a statement. They added that they support freedom of expression for all artists, but had no choice but to remove the act.

The group has also been blocked from supporting US band Gogol Bordello at the Live Music Hall venue in Germany later this year. The venue reportedly withdrew its slot independently of festival organisers, reported Rolling Stone.

Earlier this week, Bob Vylan revealed their US visas had been revoked, effectively cancelling their North American tour. United Talent Agency has also severed ties with them.

In response to the controversy, Bob Vylan issued a statement clarifying the context of their “Death to the IDF” chant.

“We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine,” they said on Instagram, referencing reports of excessive force used by Israeli soldiers against civilians in Gaza. “Whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction. We are not the story.”

Glastonbury organisers previously distanced themselves from the duo’s remarks, while UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the chant as “appalling hate speech.”

During their set at Worthy Farm, frontman Bobby Vylan also called out a former record label boss who had voiced pro-Israel sentiments and supported a campaign to remove Irish-language rap group Kneecap from the Glastonbury lineup.

Despite mounting professional consequences, the duo remain defiant. “News articles you may have missed over the past few days, while politicians and the media debate the dangers of a Punk Band. From starving children to proscribing activists as terrorist groups. Do not be distracted,” they urged in a new Instagram post.

Comments

Laila Jul 04, 2025 12:53pm
They haven't been indicted or convicted yet. So no need to cancel them. This entire debacle has given them massive free PR so the band are doing well. I for one had never heard of them or Kneecap. Now I have.
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Laila Jul 04, 2025 12:59pm
Also when we get distractions like this, you can be damn sure something bigger is underway and already in progress. Except now we all know that's the MO of the oppressors and those in power worldwide. Yes, I am talking about the US, UK, Israel, their Arab Gulf allies. What are they distracting us from and covering up? THAT IS the disturbing question.
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Mahmood Jul 04, 2025 02:53pm
This is how they silence any critic of the Zionist state or those who point out the crimes of Genocide in the occupied land, carried out by Israeli forces, aided and abetted by Western arms, political and diplomatic cover. I squarely hold the Germans (for their role in the Holocaust and for teaching the Jews how to slaughter innocent women and babies) the British, for the unilateral Balfour Declaration granting the Jews permission to settle in Palestinian lands) and the Americans, for arming, financially assisting, provided intelligence and political blessing for the killing machine called "IDF" and the War-Criminals of Israeli Govt.
Recommend 4