Bob Vylan’s leading man has spoken out after the band was slammed by Blur’s Damon Albarn.
In June, Worthy Farm’s West Holt stage saw the punk duo – comprising of frontman Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan – spark controversy as they led crowds at the festival into a frenzy with chants of ‘free, free Palestine’ and ‘death to the IDF.’
The performance has earned a huge amount of controversy, as band is now being investigated by the police, with Glastonbury and the BBC condemning their performance.
In a recent interview, 90s Britpop star Damon, 57, called the performance a ‘misfire.’
Damon told The Times:’It was one of the most spectacular misfires I’ve seen in my life.
‘Especially when he started to goose-step in tennis gear. I mean I’ve had my moments — not quite as catastrophic as that but you do get carried away. The old testosterone gets you going. But it’s unfortunate. Everyone’s just so hysterical.’
In response to his comments, Bobby Vylan seemingly referred to Damon and called him ‘out of touch’.
He wrote on X: ‘A little help for any other out of touch 90s musician asked about Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. Your response should probably resemble something to the affect of: “Over 58k Palestinians killed since Oct 7th 2023. Over 700 killed while attempting to get aid…
‘2/2. Over 1400 medical workers killed since Oct 7th. Genocide is being live streamed for all to see and the UK is not simply allowing it to continue but facilitating it, along with the United States. Why are we talking about a punk band?” End.’
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While speaking to The Times, Albarn reiterated his support for Palestine, something he has been vocal about for some time. He also spoke about how he would want his new project Africa Express – a collective that brings musicians across the world together – to visit Palestine.
‘Because part of the huge issue of Palestine is the way that their identity is being eroded so brutally. So Africa Express could go into Palestine. It’s not about politics, it’s about culture.
‘And so I would also want to go to Israel and bring people together. If I was asked to go to Russia, I would go. I’d go to Ukraine too.’
Since the Glastonbury set, Bob Vylan has reportedly been dropped by United Talent Agency (UTA), had their visas for their US tour revoked, and had concerts cancelled.
In a post on July 14, the group announced that they’d no longer be joining Gogol Bordello on their European Tour.
‘Due to logistical complications, we have decided not to join our friends Gogol Bordello on their upcoming European Tour. However, we will be heading to Europe in the coming months for both festivals and headline shows,’ said the statement.
Making his first public appearance since the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, appeared at a sold-out surprise gig in London on July 9.
At the intimate concert at The 100 Club on Wednesday night, some fans started to repeat the Glastonbury chant of ‘death to the IDF’.
Vylan is said to have quickly responded to his fans, saying: ‘You are going to get me in trouble,’ before leading the crowd in a chant of ‘Free, free Palestine’.
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