After their performance in Glastonbury, the Bob Vylan were downloaded from the Manchester Radar Festival and the Kave Fest in France, as well as by an event in Cologne scheduled for September. In this unpleasant domino for the band, the deputy secretary of state of the United States Christopher Landau has increased the dose by writing on X that the State Department “revoked the visa to the members of the Bob Vylan in the light of their hatred campaign in Glastonbury, who included having guided the crowd in death choirs”.
The announcements come a few days after the controversial performance of the English duo. On the most important stage of England, the Bob Vylan took the floor on the Israeli-Palestinian situation in no uncertain terms. First they incited the audience with the “Free, Free Palestine” choir, and then launched in “Death, Death to the IDF (Israel Defense Forces, ed.)”. On the maxi-site behind them instead a clear and direct message to the BBC, which was broadcasting the concert live: “The United Nations call it genocide, the BBC calls him conflict”. Glastonbury organizers soon published a statement about it: «Those choirs have definitely exceeded the limit. We urgently remember all those involved in the production of the festival that in Glastonbury there is no place for anti -Semitism, incitement to hatred or encouraging violence “.
After the concert, rapper Bobby Vylan said he received “hatred and support and support messages, confirming his position:” Teaching our children to speak openly for the change they want and they need is the only way to make this world a better place, “wrote Vylan in the post. “As we grow up, and our fire perhaps begins to fade under the weight of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important to inspire future generations to collect the torch that has been handed down to us”.
According to the rumors circulated these days, confirmed by the announcement of the Kave Fest, the Bob Vylan would have been downloaded from their agency, the United Talent Agency (Uta). An investigation by the Somerset police was also opened on the band.
However, the band does not seem to be shaken by the situation. On his Instagram, in fact, after having pointed out that the IDF killed 372 Palestinians in Gaza during the 5 days of Glastonbury, he replied to the announcement of the Radar Festival of the annulment of their concert: “Silence is not an option. We are fine, it is the people of Palestine who is sick. Manchester, we will return ». In a joint press release, however, they write: “Today a nice group of people will make you believe that a punk band is the number one enemy of world peace. We are not for the death of the Jews, the Arabs or any other breed and group. We are to dismantle a violent military machine to whose soldiers he says they use “an unnecessary lethal force” against civilians waiting for humanitarian aid. […] We are not the story, we are a distraction ».
The press release continues: «The government does not want him to be asked: why do you remain silent in front of these atrocities? Why don't you do anymore to stop these killings? To help who dies of hunger? The more time they will spend talking about the Bob Vylan, the less time it will be used to answer their criminal inactivity. We are in the sight for talking, we are not the first, we will not be the last ».
Some artists such as Lambrini Girls, Amyl and the Sniffers, Soft Play have expressed public support for Bob Vylan. The Massive Attack, on the other hand, reiterating a concept of the Bob Vylan have written in a statement: «The media and the political class focus again on the artists. Given the Ban of Israel to the international journalists interested in telling what happens in Gaza and the simultaneous assassination of hundreds of journalists in Gaza at the hands of the Israeli forces, Massive Attack urgently ask the BBC and the other media to move their resources to tell the truth of what happens daily to the people of Gaza and to explain the total lack of action of western governments (such as the English).
