On Wednesday night, July 9, British punk-rap duo Bob Vylan played their first show in England since their controversial set at Glastonbury where frontman Bobby Vylan led the crowd in a chant of “Death, death to the IDF.” The gig took place at the 100 Club, in the Soho neighborhood of London, and found Bobby Vylan acknowledging the controversy surrounding the band.
“I’m gonna try to keep my talkin’ to a minimum today,” Vylan said, according to footage shared by The Standard, “’cause that’s what got us in trouble in the first fuckin’ place!” Members of the crowd then began chanting, “Death, death to the IDF,” at which point Vylan said, “No, no, no, no, no, you’re gonna get me in trouble. You’re gonna get me in trouble.”
“Apparently, every other chant is fine,” Bobby Vylan continued, “but you lot will get me in trouble.” He then led a chant of “Free, free Palestine,” and added, “We’re gonna stick with the classics, all right?”
The Avon and Somerset Police has been investigating whether Bobby Vylan’s comments at Glastonbury, aimed at the Israeli Defense Forces, constitute a criminal offense. As noted by The Guardian and The Independent, the Metropolitan Police is also investigating Vylan for allegedly saying, during a concert at London’s Alexandra Palace, in May, “Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF.”
Following their set at Glastonbury, Bob Vylan were dropped by United Talent Agency, had their U.S. visas revoked by the Trump administration, and were removed from the lineup of a Manchester music festival. Glastonbury organizers said they were “appalled” by the band’s comments, and the BBC apologized for broadcasting the performance.
Bob Vylan defended themselves in a statement, writing, “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. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use ‘unnecessary lethal force’ against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.”
