Bob Vylan Dropped From Europe Music Festivals in Wake of 'Death to the IDF' Controversy
The rap duo were set to headline the Radar Festival at the city's Victoria Warehouse on Saturday, but organizers posted to social media that they will not make an appearance. The group told fans in response on Instagram Wednesday: 'Manchester, we will be back.'
More from The Hollywood Reporter
James Bond Movies With Sean Connery, Renee Zellweger-Directed Short Set for Edinburgh Fest
True Brit Entertainment Touts 'The Death of Robin Hood,' 'Christmas Karma,' Slate Investment
A Demon, Peruvian Time Travel and the "Czechoslovak Tom Jones": Eight Offbeat Films in Karlovy Vary
Bob Vylan had been scheduled to play a French music festival, Kave Fest, on Sunday, but a spokesperson told the BBC that won't be happening either. An appearance at a gig in Germany will also no longer go ahead as planned in September.
It comes after the British act sparked outcry at Glastonbury Festival for chanting 'death, death to the IDF [Israeli Defense Forces]' on the West Holts stage last week.
Glastonbury organizer Emily Eavis condemned the 'utterly unacceptable' statements made during the set and the BBC, TV partner of the festival, released a statement expressing 'regrets' over not pulling the livestream as 'antisemitic sentiments' aired. ''The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence,' the statement said. 'The team were dealing with a live situation, but with hindsight, we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen.'
U.K. prime minister Keir Starmer called the chants 'appalling hate speech,' and the band's U.S. visas have been revoked in light of their 'hateful Glastonbury tirade.' They were dropped by the United Talent Agency earlier this week, The Hollywood Reporter reported.
Bob Vylan responded to the controversy via Instagram on Tuesday, saying they felt like they'd been '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,' Bob Vylan said, adding: '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.'
Glastonbury Festival was a politically charged event this year with various acts using the opportunity on stage to express their own views. Olivia Rodrigo wrapped up this year's fest with a raucous headline set Sunday night.
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
From 'Party in the U.S.A.' to 'Born in the U.S.A.': 20 of America's Most Patriotic (and Un-Patriotic) Musical Offerings
Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More
Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lewis Capaldi Scores First U.K. No. 1 Since 2023 with Comeback Single ‘Survive'
Lewis Capaldi has scored his first U.K. No. 1 single since 2023 with his comeback track 'Survive.' On the Official Singles Chart dated July 4, the Scottish singer-songwriter is back at the top with his sixth chart-topping single. Capaldi previously hit the summit with 'Someone You Loved' (2018), 'Before You Go' (2019), 'Forget Me' (2022), 'Pointless' (2022), and 'Wish You The Best' (2022). More from Billboard Lewis Capaldi Announces Dates For 2025 U.K./Ireland Tour Following Triumphant Glastonbury Return: 'About Time I Got Back to Work' LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan Cancel Philadelphia Fest Appearances in Support of City Workers' Strike Lorde Bags First U.K. No. 1 Album With 'Virgin' The Official Charts Company reports that by shifting 68,500 chart units in its opening week (including over 4 million streams), 'Survive' surpasses Capaldi's previous 56,000-unit best, earned with 2022's 'Forget Me,' to secure the feat. Capaldi made a stunning comeback last weekend at Glastonbury Festival (June 27) with his first large live show in two years. He performed on the Pyramid Stage, returning to the place where he was forced to abandon his set following vocal issues back in 2023. Capaldi performed 'Survive' during the 30-minute set, and said that returning to 'finish' the performance was his main goal while he worked through mental health issues; a U.K. and Ireland tour is set to take place later this year. MK's collaboration with Chrystal 'Dior' holds steady at No. 2, while Sabrina Carpenter's 'Manchild' falls from the top spot to No. 3. The latter has spent two non-consecutive weeks at the summit since its release in early June. Ravyn Lenae's 'Love Me Not' continues its impressive longevity by holding firm at No. 4, and Chappell Roan's 'Pink Pony Club' closes the week at No. 5. Olivia Dean's 'Nice to Each Other' climbs to a new peak of No. 15, while PinkPantheress enjoys a post-Glasto boost for her song 'Illegal,' which rises 14 places to No. 22. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Lorde Bags First U.K. No. 1 Album With ‘Virgin'
Lorde has earned her first U.K. No. 1 LP as Virgin tops the Official Albums Chart dated July 4. Her fourth studio album surpasses her previous records to hit the top spot, beating 2013's Pure Heroine (No. 4), 2017's Melodrama (No. 5) and 2021 LP Solar Power (No. 2). More from Billboard Lorde's 'Virgin': All 11 Tracks Ranked LL Cool J and Jazmine Sullivan Cancel Philadelphia Fest Appearances in Support of City Workers' Strike Lewis Capaldi Scores First U.K. No. 1 Since 2023 with Comeback Single 'Survive' Speaking to the Official Charts Company, Lorde says, 'I cannot believe that I've got Number 1 in the U.K.! This is absolutely insane. I felt so much love from the U.K. on Virgin. I cannot thank you enough and I cannot wait to see you on the tour very, very soon. Sending all my love. Love you guys so much!' The New Zealand-born star appeared at Glastonbury last weekend (June 27) with a surprise set to open the festival, performing Virgin in full. Later this year, she will hit the U.K and Ireland for an arena tour, including a stop at London's 20,000-capacity O2 Arena. Bruce Springsteen earns his 25th top 10 LP with epic boxset Tracks II: The Lost Albums, which features 82 previously-unheard tracks from the period spanning 1983 to 2018. Sabrina Carpenter's Short n' Sweet, meanwhile, breaks a long-standing record as it closes the week at No. 2. At 45 weeks, her LP boasts the longest consecutive top five streak for a solo artist LP in Official Albums Chart history, surpassing Elvis Presley's G.I. Blues and its 44-week run. Ed Sheeran's +–=÷× (Tour Collection) finishes at No. 4, while Rod Stewart experiences a post-Glasto boost for his career-spanning Ultimate Hits collection (No. 5). Stewart performed in the Legend's slot on the Pyramid Stage last Sunday (June 29) and was joined by former Small Face bandmate Ronnie Wood during his performance. Best of Billboard Chart Rewind: In 1989, New Kids on the Block Were 'Hangin' Tough' at No. 1 Four Decades of 'Madonna': A Look Back at the Queen of Pop's Debut Album on the Charts Chart Rewind: In 1990, Madonna Was in 'Vogue' Atop the Hot 100
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
Kneecap at Finsbury Park: 'infamy doesn't weigh heavily on them'
When Fontaines D.C. booked Belfast rap trio Kneecap to support them at their massive Finsbury Park show, they did so knowing full well what the group stood for and how vocal they were about their beliefs. The group have never been shy about their support for the Palestinian people, but neither have Fontaines themselves. What they might not have expected was that Kneecap would be playing with a terrorism charge hanging over the head of Mo Chara (Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh), or that it would take place less than a week after the storm of controversy - and police investigation - which surrounded their Glastonbury performance and the words of Bob Vylan, the group who played directly before them at the festival's West Holts stage. 'Are we f***ing ready for a mad one?!' screams Mo Chara as he walks on stage to whoops of approval. 'It's nice to be back in London and not in court!' He laughs between songs, adding 'Well, we'll see how this gig goes,' as he gestures towards the police presence just off stage. 'Keir Starmer did an interview with the f***ing Sun saying we shouldn't be playing and he f***ing couldn't stop us - f*** Keir Starmer!' the group add, before leading the crowd in chants of 'You're just a s*** Jeremy Corbyn', finally collapsing in giggles. If you hadn't guessed, they're not a group who let their infamy weigh too heavy on them. Elsewhere in the set, there are chants of 'Free Palestine" taken up by everyone from the front to the back of the crowd, not least when Fontaines D.C's Grian Chatten comes on stage for a rendition of Better Way To Live and leads his own rallying cry for the Palestinian people. Politics aside (if that's even possible at this point), this is music that'd break the glass in a reinforced window. The mosh pits are momentous and the bass is absolutely brutal, even with the sound restrictions of an inner-London park show. Sick In The Head sees the crowd going absolutely wild, and fan favourite Your Sniffer Dogs Are Shite sees singalongs so loud they can probably be heard back in West Belfast. 'If anybody is free on the 20th August, go to the court and support Mo Chara', says Moglai Bap, before chants of 'free Mo Chara' erupt from the crowd. 'There's nothing like embarrassing the British Government…you can never beat the Irish!' he adds. What follows is Guilty Conscience, a song with a chorus about masturbation, but Mo Chara is quick to follow a moment of levity with an impassioned speech about the importance of continuing to speak about the Palestinian people. 'It's something we all care about and sometimes it feels helpless because there's nothing we can do, but what's important right now is there's gonna be videos going around Gaza and the West Bank, and morale is a huge thing…we're on the right side of history, lads.' While some sections of the media might not agree with that statement, the crowd here certainly do. On the title track of debut album Fine Art, Kneecap rap 'You can love us or hate us, won't affect a bit of our wages'. Judging by the turnout today amidst all the controversy and the positive reception their message receives, they might just be right.
