Punk-rap duo Bob Vylan have been dropped from the Radar Festival line-up in Manchester just days after frontman Bobby Vylan led Glastonbury crowds in chants of “Death, death to the IDF”, prompting fierce criticism and a criminal investigation.
The controversial act were scheduled to headline at Victoria Warehouse this Saturday, 5 July, but organisers announced on Wednesday: “Bob Vylan will not be appearing at Radar Festival this weekend.” Their name was removed from the schedule, with the Saturday headliner now listed as “TBA”.
The move comes amid mounting pressure from Jewish groups, campaigners and local politicians over what the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester described as a “hate-filled” performance on the West Holts Stage at Worthy Farm.
In a statement issued earlier this week, the JRC said: “The fallout from his appalling, hate-filled concert at Glastonbury has shocked the Jewish community. Whilst appreciating the importance of artistic freedom, this individual now has a history of openly inciting violence against Jewish and Israeli people.”
The chant – streamed live on BBC iPlayer – triggered widespread condemnation, including from Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who decried “the airing of vile Jew-hate at Glastonbury”.
The BBC apologised, admitting that “with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance”. A spokesperson added: “The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves.”
The rapper Bobby Vylan had launched into an incendiary rant at one stage about “Zionists”
The broadcaster confirmed that Director-General Tim Davie was present at the festival, but “was informed of the incident after the performance and at that point he was clear it should not feature in any other Glastonbury coverage.”
also contacted the Academy Music Group, which owns the Victoria Warehouse venue, warning that allowing the group to perform would risk a repeat of “their offensive display of antisemitic chants”.
Victoria Warehouse, Manchester. Photo Credit: Wikipedia
Trafford Council’s Conservative opposition leader Nathan Evans wrote to the borough’s chief executive, Sara Todd, raising concerns over the group’s planned appearance.
Responding to their removal, Bob Vylan shared the Radar Festival statement on Instagram with the caption: “Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting. Manchester we will be back.”
The duo has also been pulled from Kave Fest in France and dropped from a September concert in Cologne, Germany. Meanwhile, Deputy US Secretary of State Christopher Landau has revoked their visas, effectively banning them from entering the United States ahead of a planned tour.
A statement posted by the band on Tuesday claimed: “We are being targeted for speaking up… 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 added: “We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story, and whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction.”
On Monday, Avon and Somerset Police confirmed a formal investigation is underway into the performance. Ofcom also weighed in, saying it was “very concerned” about the BBC’s coverage and that “the BBC clearly has questions to answer”.
Bob Vylan, formed in Ipswich in 2017, are known for fusing punk and rap with overtly political lyrics on themes including race, class and masculinity. Frontman Bobby Vylan, 34, whose legal name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, has not commented further on the ongoing probe.
The group are still scheduled to appear at Boardmasters Festival in Newquay, Cornwall, in August. Radar Festival and Victoria Warehouse have declined to issue further statements at this time.
