English punk duo Bob Vylan have sparked controversy this weekend following their incendiary efficiency at Glastonbury.
The two Bobs – frontman Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan – have discovered themselves the topic of police investigation after chants of ‘free Palestine’ and ‘death to the IDF’ have been made throughout their set on West Holts stage on Saturday.
As debate raged on over whether or not Irish rappers Kneecap ought to be allowed to carry out at the occasion, Bob Vylan contributed their very own explosive take, leaving festival organisers ‘appalled’ by what was said.
As per footage from final evening’s efficiency, Bobby Vylan led the viewers in chants of ‘free, free Palestine,’ and different statements which have been construed as ‘threatening.’
A spokesperson for the BBC described the feedback as ‘deeply offensive’ and promised that the efficiency wouldn’t be made accessible on demand.
But who are Bob Vylan?
Who are Bob Vylan?
Formed in Ipswich, London in 2017, Bob Vylan include singer and guitarist Bobby Vylan, and drummer Bobbie Vylan – recognized collectively as ‘The Bobs.’
Their musical fashion is described as a mix of grime rap and punk rock, finest evidenced of their 2020 hit We Live Here.
This politically-charged track, launched in the summer time of Black Lives Matter, recalled the 1993 murder of 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence in its polemic on race relations in the UK.
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The duo have launched 5 albums thus far – beginning with their self-produced and distributed Vylan, in 2017.
In 2019, they launched their first studio album, Dread, which they adopted with We Live Here (2020), Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life (2022) and Humble as the Sun (2024).
Are Bob Vylan brothers?
Bob Vylan are not associated by blood. The pair adopted the Bobs moniker in a bid to guard their anonymity.
Their actual names are at present unknown.
Five years after their debut, Bob Vylan scored Best Album at the 2022 Kerrang! Awards and performed at Chicago Riot Fest that very same 12 months.
‘The band has gotten itself to a point where you can’t actually ignore you,’ the band mentioned in an interview with DIY Magazine.
What did Bob Vylan say at Glastonbury?
It’s definitely arduous to disregard the band following their efficiency at Glastonbury this weekend.
As they launched into their set, vocalist Bobby led the attendees in chants of ‘Free, free Palestine,’ and ‘death to the IDF (Israeli Defence Force).’
He additionally declared: ‘from the river to the sea Palestine… will be free,’ sparking criticism from the Israeli Embassy.
‘The embassy in the United Kingdom is deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival,’ the organisation responded in a press release.
UK Health Secretary Wes Streeting described the incident as ‘appalling,’ however instructed that the Embassy ought to ‘get your own house in order’ earlier than criticising Glastonbury.
‘I think there’s a critical level there by the Israeli embassy that I take critically. I want they’d take the violence of their very own residents in direction of Palestinians extra critically,’ he mentioned in an interview with Sky News.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has additionally condemned the BBC’s determination to broadcast the set stay.
A spokesman for the politician mentioned: ‘We strongly condemn the threatening comments made by Bob Vylan at Glastonbury.’
An announcement from Glastonbury reads: ‘Their chants very much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence.’
Avon and Somerset police weighed in, releasing a put up on social media which mentioned: ‘We are aware of the comments made by acts on the West Holts Stage at Glastonbury Festival this afternoon.’
‘Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.’
As for the band, they’ve been maintaining cool since yesterday’s efficiency, as an unfazed Bobby posted an replace to his social media.
Sharing a selfie by way of his Instagram Stories, the frontman joked: ‘while zionists are crying on socials, I’ve simply had a (vegan) ice cream.’
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