Bob Vylan Frontman Speaks Out After Band Is Dropped From Manchester Music Festival
Over the weekend, the band caused controversy when they led the crowd at their Glastonbury set in a chant of 'death to the IDF', in reference to Israel's army.
After facing condemnation from UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, the BBC – which broadcast the set live and uncensored on its iPlayer service – and Glastonbury's organisers, it was revealed that a criminal investigation was underway following sets by both Bob Vylan and fellow performers Kneecap.
On Wednesday, BBC News reported that, in the wake of the controversy, Bob Vylan had been dropped from the line-ups of Radar Festival in Manchester, and Kave Fest in France.
Reacting to the news, frontman Bobby Vylan wrote on Instagram: 'Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting.'
'Manchester we will be back,' he then vowed.
Bobby previously addressed the Glastonbury furore in an Instagram post captioned: 'I said what I said.'
He and bandmate Bobbie Vylan then released a joint statement which read: '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. A machine whose own soldiers were told to use 'unnecessary lethal force' against innocent civilians waiting for aid. A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.'
Referring to the activist group Palestine Action and fellow Glastonbury performers Kneecap, the duo continued: '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.
'The government doesn't want us to ask why they remain silent in the face of this atrocity. To ask why they aren't doing more to stop the killing. To feed the starving. The more they talk about Bob Vylan, the less they spend answering for their criminal inaction.
'We are being targeted for speaking up. We are not the first. We will not be the last. And if you care for the sanctity of human life and freedom of speech, we urge you to speak up, too.'
Avon and Somerset Police said on Tuesday: 'Video footage and audio from Bob Vylan and Kneecap's performances at Glastonbury Festival on Saturday has been reviewed.
'Following the completion of that assessment process we have decided further enquiries are required and a criminal investigation is now being undertaken. A senior detective has been appointed to lead this investigation.'
Police Open Criminal Investigation After Bob Vylan And Kneecap's Glastonbury Sets
'We Are Not The Story': Bob Vylan Speak Out After Glastonbury Set Sparks Criminal Investigation
Bob Vylan Frontman Breaks Silence After Glastonbury Controversy Sparks Police Investigation
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