Bob Vylan

Not to be confused with Bob Dylan.
"Vylan" redirects here and is not to be confused with Vilan.
Bob Vylan
Bobbie Vylan and Bobby Vylan in Los Angeles, 2022
Bobbie Vylan and Bobby Vylan in Los Angeles, 2022
Background information
Also known asThe Bobs
OriginIpswich, England
Genres
Years active2017–present
Labels
  • Ghost Theatre
  • Venn
Members
  • Bobby Vylan
  • Bobbie Vylan
Websitebobvylan.com

Bob Vylan is an English punk rap duo based in London. Their work merges elements of punk, hip hop, grime, and hardcore, and features criticisms of the British establishment, inequality, racism, sexism, and homophobia.[4] The members are Bobby Vylan on vocals and guitar, and Bobbie Vylan on drums; both names are stage names that the band members use to maintain their privacy in the face of what they describe as a surveillance state.[5] They refer to themselves as "the Bobs".

The group has released four albums beginning with their self-released 2019 debut Dread. Their most recent album Humble as the Sun (2024) was released on the Ghost Theatre label. The group is outspoken in their opposition to the occupation of the Palestinian territories by the government of Israel, and Israel's actions in the Gaza war. They sparked controversy during their performance at Glastonbury Festival 2025 for leading the crowd in a chant of "death, death to the IDF", which resulted in their visas for an upcoming tour in the United States being revoked.[6][7]

History

The band was formed in 2017 by singer–guitarist Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan in Ipswich. Their first concert followed just two weeks later. Bobby took part in slam poetry as a teenager under the name Nee Hi, receiving coverage from the BBC in the mid-2000s.[8][9]

In the first year of the band's history, Bob Vylan released four singles and two EPs, Dread and Vylan, via the band's own label, Ghost Theatre. Following the DIY principle, the musicians personally delivered their albums to various record stores and booked their own shows.[10]

The band released their debut album on 5 June 2020, We Live Here. The album was self-released after the band were told that it was " too extreme" by the music industry.[11] Bob Vylan then toured supporting the Offspring and Biffy Clyro and performed at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2021.[citation needed] The band released its second studio album on 22 April 2022, Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life, which entered the UK Albums Chart at number 18.[12] The band released two singles from their third studio album, Humble as the Sun on 27 October 2023. The album was released on 5 April 2024.[13]

Glastonbury Festival 2025 controversy

During Bob Vylan's performance at the 2025 Glastonbury Festival, in front of a screen reading "Free Palestine: United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a 'conflict'", Bobby Vylan called out to the crowd: "Alright, but have you heard this one, though? Death, death to the IDF!", and declared "Hell yeah, from the river to the sea, Palestine must be, will be – inshallah – it will be free!"[14][15][16] The frontman also mentioned that some "bald-headed cunt" he had worked for in the past signed a petition against Kneecap, commenting that "we've done it all, all right? From working in bars to working for fucking Zionists".[17][18][19] The band was one of several acts to make statements in support of Palestine and against Israel during their performances, alongside the Irish acts CMAT, Inhaler and Kneecap.[20][21]

Avon and Somerset Police opened a criminal investigation into Vylan over the chant.[22][23] The comments, in particular "death to the IDF", led to criticism and condemnation.[24][14] Glastonbury Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis said she was "appalled" by the comments, which contradicted the festival's ethos of "hope, unity, peace and love".[25] Journalist David Aaronovitch said that Vylan's comment about working for Zionists was an invocation of the antisemitic trope of Jewish control over the music industry.[26] A BBC spokesperson apologised for the "deeply offensive" content in the performance, saying that it would no longer be available to stream on BBC iPlayer[27] and that they "should have pulled the stream during the performance".[16]

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy spoke to BBC Director-General Tim Davie to seek an "urgent explanation about what due diligence" the corporation carried out prior to broadcasting the act; the BBC had declined to broadcast Kneecap's set live amid similar controversy over their presence at the festival.[28][20] Prime Minister Keir Starmer described the performance as "appalling hate speech" and stated the BBC had questions to answer for broadcasting it.[24] Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scene "grotesque", writing, "Glorifying violence against Jews isn't edgy."[29] The Israeli embassy stated that the chants constituted "inflammatory and hateful rhetoric" and glorified violence.[20] Labour health secretary Wes Streeting described the group's actions as "appalling", and said the "irony of that music festival is that Israelis were taken from a music festival, killed, raped and in some cases are still being held captive".[30][31]

The US Department of State revoked the duo's entry visas ahead of a planned autumn tour, with Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau saying: "Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country."[32] This followed Kneecap losing their U.S. visa sponsor under similar circumstances.[33][34] United Talent Agency dropped the group as a client after the incident.[35] Bob Vylan were removed from the lineups of Radar Festival and Kave Fest.[36]

Bobbie Vylan said in a statement: "...don't let the media distract you from what's truly important. [...] They want to control this country's narrative to frame genocide as Israel defending itself [...] Regardless of how it was said, calling for an end to the slaughter of innocents is never wrong."[37] The band also released a statement, writing, "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 that has destroyed much of Gaza."[38]

The bands Massive Attack, Fontaines D.C., and Amyl and the Sniffers spoke in support of Bob Vylan.[39][40] Massive Attack asked the media to focus on "what is happening daily to the people of Gaza" rather than on Bob Vylan.[8] Jordan Benjamin, who performs as Grandson, said, "As a Jewish artist, I am deeply offended by the conflation of criticism against a military force known for their indiscriminate violence with antisemitism."[33] Lawyer Jolyon Maugham questioned whether the comments constituted a crime, since they were directed towards the Israeli military rather than Jewish people.[33] Journalist Archie Bland wrote that the actions of the Israeli military were the "obvious" focus of the chant. Bland also compared the level of coverage of Bob Vylan's comments with the killing of Palestinians at aid sites, writing "the obsession with Bob Vylan ... matters mainly for its diversionary force."[41]

Following the festival, the band's 2024 album Humble As The Sun surged back up the music charts, reaching the top of the UK Hip Hop and R&B albums chart as well as number 7 on the Official Album Downloads Chart and number 8 on the Official Independent Albums Chart.[42][43] After the festival, a video surfaced showing Bobby Vylan saying to the crowd at Alexandra Palace in London on 28 May 2025: "Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF".[44][45] At their first UK concert after the festival, at London's 100 Club, the crowd started to chant "Death to the IDF". Bobby Vylan urged them to stop, saying "you’ll get me in trouble", and instead led a chant of "Free Palestine".[46]

Musical style

Bob Vylan at Full Force 2022 in Ferropolis, Germany.

Bob Vylan combines grime rap with punk rock. Singer Bobby Vylan grew up listening to rap, grime, punk and indie rock. After learning the guitar, he wanted to incorporate all of his influences into his music. Their music is also influenced by Jamaican genres as a tribute to Bobby's Jamaican heritage; songs "Wicked and Bad" and "Health Is Wealth" on their album The Price of Life contain elements of dancehall and reggae.[47] Their music also contains elements of spoken-word poetry, like "Intro" on We Live Here and "Interlude" on The Price of Life.

The Sex Pistols' Johnny Rotten and Akala are cited as two of their musical influences. Rappers Dizzee Rascal, Stormzy, and Skepta are cited as influences by Bobby Vylan in particular.[48] Despite their stage name, the pair do not cite Bob Dylan as a musical influence.[49] In a 2024 interview with DIY, lead singer Bobby attributed a lot of his lyrical influence to the late Whitney Houston, with drummer Bobbie adding "Whitney was everything to me when I was a kid".[50]

The American magazine Alternative Press recommended Bob Vylan for fans of Idles, Fever 333 and Turnstile.[51] Ian Winwood from UK magazine Kerrang! called Bob Vylan the most exciting and important punk band in the United Kingdom in 2022.[47]

Musical themes

Common ideas found in the lyrics include social and political issues such as racism, police violence, economic inequality, access to healthy food, gentrification, mental health, fatherhood, late-stage capitalism, homophobia, toxic masculinity, Britain's political hypocrisy, and the pharmaceutical industry. The theme of the struggles of being a black man in Europe are recurring in every album, and include the mental health struggles of black men, institutional racism that contributes to poverty in black communities, the threat of police, and the struggles of being a black parent in a world that threatens your children.[52]

Walter Rodney, a Guyanese academic and anti-colonial activist, is featured on "Walter Speaks" and "Health Is Wealth".[citation needed]

In 2020, Bobby Vylan criticised the band Idles, whom he alleged had neglected the murder of George Floyd in order to protect their commercial interests with a mostly white audience.[53] In November 2023, he criticised Idles and Sleaford Mods at a show in Dublin, alleging that both groups called themselves left-wing but would not speak up for Palestinians.[54][55]

Discography

Studio albums

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK[12]
We Live Here
  • Released: 27 March 2020
  • Label: Venn
 — —
Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life
  • Released: 22 April 2022
  • Label: Ghost Theatre
 18 —
Humble as the Sun
  • Released: 5 April 2024
  • Label: Ghost Theatre
 22 —

Extended plays

Title Details Peak chart positions Certifications
UK[12]
Dread
  • Released: 1 March 2019
  • Label: Ghost Theatre
 — —

Awards

Award nominations for Work
Year Category Institution or publication Result Notes Ref.
2022 Best Alternative Music Act MOBO Awards Won This was the first year that the MOBO Awards had Best Alternative Music Act as a category [56]
2022 Best Album Kerrang! Awards Won For the album Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life [57]


References

  1. ^ Bowman, Lara (29 June 2025). "Who are Bob Vylan, the punk-rap duo behind Glastonbury's IDF chants?". The Sunday Times. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  2. ^ Brown, Ed (25 May 2022). "Bob Vylan: Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life". Treble. Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 7 May 2023. British rap-rock duo Bob Vylan
  3. ^ "'Bob Vylan Presents: The Price Of Life' – review: fiercely relevant, furious punk anthems". NME. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  4. ^ Bell, Georgia. "Who are Bob Vylan? The punk duo behind Glastonbury's controversial pro-Palestine chants". The Standard. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  5. ^ Bell, Georgia (29 June 2025). "Who are Bob Vylan? The punk duo behind Glastonbury's controversial pro-Palestine chants". Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  6. ^ U.S. revokes visas for British band that chanted, 'Death, death to the IDF'
  7. ^ Wolfson, Sam (2 July 2025). "Who are Bob Vylan? The British punks who had their US visas revoked for anti-IDF chants". The Guardian.
  8. ^ a b Glynn, Paul (30 June 2025). "Bob Vylan: All you need to know about the controversial duo". BBC News. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  9. ^ McTaggart, India (30 June 2025). "BBC championed 'hate' rapper's early career as 'poet with a powerful message'". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  10. ^ "Go Your Own Way: Bob Vylan". DIY. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  11. ^ Daly, Rhian (5 June 2020). "Bob Vylan say music industry figures told them "scarily relevant" new EP 'We Live Here' was "too extreme"". NME. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  12. ^ a b c "BOB VYLAN | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". www.officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 18 October 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Bob Vylan announce new album, Humble as the Sun". Kerrang!. 27 October 2023. Retrieved 4 December 2023.
  14. ^ a b "Pro-Palestinian rapper leads 'Death to the IDF' chant at English music festival". i24news. 28 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  15. ^ "UK police assess footage of Glastonbury acts over anti-Israel chants". CNN. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Bob Vylan: BBC says live coverage of Glastonbury set should have been pulled". BBC News. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  17. ^ Saunders, Emma (1 July 2025). "Chief rabbi attacks BBC for airing 'vile Jew hate' at Glastonbury". BBC. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  18. ^ Montgomery, Samuel (29 June 2025). "Bob Vylan: the rappers who want to 'dig up Maggie's grave'". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  19. ^ Witherow, Tom (30 June 2025). "Angry BBC staff demand resignations over Bob Vylan livestream". The Times. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  20. ^ a b c "Glastonbury sees fierce support for Palestine amid Israel's ongoing war on Gaza". The New Arab. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  21. ^ McCormick, Neil (28 June 2025). "Kneecap, Glastonbury review: Irish trio deliver pummelling music and political fury". The Telegraph.
  22. ^ Marshall, Alex (1 July 2025). "What to Know About Bob Vylan, the Band at the Center of a Scandal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  23. ^ "Glastonbury: Police launch criminal investigation into Bob Vylan and Kneecap sets". www.bbc.com. 30 June 2025. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  24. ^ a b Hale, Adam; Fatima, Zahra; Francis, Sam (28 June 2025). "Starmer criticises 'appalling' Bob Vylan IDF chants". BBC. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  25. ^ Vinter, Robyn; Grierson, Jamie (29 June 2025). "Glastonbury organisers 'appalled' by Bob Vylan's anti-IDF remarks during performance". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  26. ^ Aaronovitch, David (2 July 2025). "This Bob Vylan furore is a distraction from finding an end to the bloodshed". The Observer. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  27. ^ Spencer-Elliott, Lydia (29 June 2025). "BBC issues scathing response to Bob Vylan's 'deeply offensive' Glastonbury set". The Independent.
  28. ^ Multiple sources:
  29. ^ "Streeting tells Israel 'get your own house in order' amid Glastonbury row". The Independent. 29 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  30. ^ "Glastonbury Festival 'appalled' by Bob Vylan IDF comments". BBC News. 28 June 2025. Archived from the original on 29 June 2025. Retrieved 29 June 2025.
  31. ^ Mason, Rowena; Grierson, Jamie; Vinter, Robyn (29 June 2025). "Streeting condemns anti-IDF chants at Glastonbury but says 'Israel should get its own house in order'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  32. ^ Legaspi, Althea (30 June 2025). "State Department Revokes Bob Vylan's Visa Over Glastonbury Performance". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  33. ^ a b c Watkins, Ali; Marshall, Alex (29 June 2025). "Bob Vylan's Chant Against Israel's Military at Glastonbury Draws Criminal Inquiry". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 29 June 2025. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  34. ^ Hansler, Jennifer; Stockwell, Billy (30 June 2025). "Bob Vylan's Israeli military chant prompts US visa cancellation and UK criminal probe". CNN. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  35. ^ Millman, Ethan (30 June 2025). "Bob Vylan Lose Visas, Dropped by UTA Following "Death to IDF" Chant at Glastonbury". The Hollywood Reporter.
  36. ^ Deville, Chris (2 July 2025). "Bob Vylan Dropped From Festivals Amid Glastonbury Fallout". Stereogum. Retrieved 3 July 2025.
  37. ^ Jones, Abby (30 June 2025). "US State Department Revokes Bob Vylan's Visas Following Anti-IDF Chant At Glastonbury". Stereogum. Retrieved 30 June 2025.
  38. ^ Jones, Abby (1 July 2025). "Bob Vylan Share Statement After US Visas Revoked". Stereogum. Retrieved 2 July 2025.
  39. ^ "Bob Vylan Glastonbury IDF chants response". Billboard. Retrieved 1 July 2025.
  40. ^ Lynch, Jessica (2 July 2025). "Amyl & The Sniffers Defend Bob Vylan, Kneecap Over Glastonbury Backlash". Billboard. Retrieved 5 July 2025.
  41. ^ Bland, Archie (5 July 2025). "The Gaza discourse has been Vylanised – but that diversionary strategy just doesn't work any more". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  42. ^ Zemler, Emily (7 July 2025). "Bob Vylan Celebrate 'Humble as the Sun' LP Re-Entering U.K. Charts After Glastonbury Controversy". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  43. ^ "Bob Vylan and KNEECAP top charts after Glastonbury sets". Extra.ie. 7 July 2025. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  44. ^ "UK police investigate Bob Vylan pre-Glastonbury concert". RTÉ. 2 July 2025. Retrieved 7 July 2025.
  45. ^ Crabbe, Ellie (2 July 2025). "Police investigate Bob Vylan over 'death to IDF' call at gig before Glastonbury". The Independent. Retrieved 9 July 2025.
  46. ^ Moloney, Charlie (10 July 2025). "Bob Vylan frontman warns 'you'll get me in trouble' after crowd's IDF chants". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 10 July 2025.
  47. ^ a b "The Music Industry Is A Dangerous Place". kerrang.com. December 2021. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  48. ^ "On "We Live Here," UK Grime-Punk Bob Vylan Gives Racism the Finger". Bandcamp Daily. 25 June 2020. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
  49. ^ Power, Ed (9 April 2024). "Bobby Vylan: 'That's how I think the English government views the Irish: they're all right so long as they stay in their place'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 29 June 2025. Neither is a Bob Dylan fan – they just like the name.
  50. ^ "April 2024". DIY. 28 March 2024.
  51. ^ "If You Feel Like You Can't Say Something". kerrang.com. 8 August 2022. Retrieved 17 October 2022.
  52. ^ Garfinkel, Imogen (29 June 2025). "Bob Vylan: Who are the punk duo who led 'death to the IDF' chants at Glastonbury". The Jewish Chronicle.
  53. ^ Smith, Thomas (10 June 2020). "Bob Vylan: "We've been screaming about these topics at the top of our lungs for years. Why has it taken this long?"". NME. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  54. ^ Dunworth, Liberty (10 November 2023). "Bob Vylan call out "cowardly" Sleaford Mods and IDLES for not speaking out on Palestine". NME. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  55. ^ Okundaye, Jason (5 April 2024). "'We answer to nobody': duo Bob Vylan on humility, hell-raising – and punk hypocrisy". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
  56. ^ Carter, Emily (December 2022). "Bob Vylan win first-ever Best Alternative Music Act MOBO Award". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 31 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
  57. ^ Carter, Emily (23 June 2022). "Here's all the winners from the Kerrang! Awards 2022". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 16 November 2022. Retrieved 26 October 2022.
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