Bob Vylan Spark Fresh Buzz with Surprise Bristol Gig Amid Ongoing Police Probes
Punk duo Bob Vylan have once again caught fans off guard, announcing a second spontaneous gig this week—this time in Bristol—just as police inquiries into their recent performances intensify.
The duo, already at the centre of twin investigations, are under scrutiny from both Avon and Somerset Police and the Metropolitan Police. The trigger? Their controversial Glastonbury Festival set and another heated performance in London.
The Glastonbury set saw frontman Bobby Vylan—real name reportedly Pascal Robinson-Foster—ignite uproar when he led the crowd in chants of “Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces),” a moment broadcast live and now under official investigation.
In a separate incident caught on video during a May gig at Alexandra Palace, he declared: “Death to every single IDF soldier out there as an agent of terror for Israel. Death to the IDF.” That clip is also being reviewed by authorities.
Despite the mounting legal attention, Bob Vylan aren’t retreating. Instead, they doubled down. On Friday night, they rocked Thekla in Bristol, announcing the gig just hours before on Instagram: “Bristol tonight @theklabris ticket link in bio. On sale now.”
The move follows a similarly sudden show at London’s 100 Club earlier in the week. During that set, Bobby Vylan urged fans to hold back from chanting about the IDF, warning: “they could get me in trouble.” Yet moments later, he led the crowd in cries of “Free, free Palestine.”—a moment that drew further scrutiny and Bob Vylan found themselves deeper under the spotlight amid growing tensions.
They ended that night with a striking gesture—raising a Palestinian flag. Addressing the audience, Bobby Vylan said: “We are a loving band, we love you lot for being here with us. We love the Palestinian people.
Their strength, their resilience, their ability to keep on going in the face of it all is a beautiful and inspiring thing. So as hard as this week may have been for us, it has been nothing in comparison to what the Palestinian people are going through right now.
That is where the attention should be. That is where the focus should be. That is where these politicians and media outlets should be focusing their attention right now, not on the words or the actions of a f***** punk band. It is ridiculous and it only speaks to the ridiculous state of this country right now.”*
The fallout has been swift. The band’s US visas have been revoked ahead of their American tour. They’ve also been removed from Radar Festival’s lineup in Manchester and dropped from a German venue show. Adding to the setback, their talent agency, United Talent Agency (UTA), has reportedly cut ties and scrubbed them from their roster.
Still, the band isn’t slowing down. They posted a cryptic message on Instagram after their London show: “Where next?”—signalling more guerrilla-style appearances may be on the horizon.
Despite the controversy, Bob Vylan remain on the bill for next month’s Boardmasters festival in Newquay, Cornwall.
The BBC has also found itself in hot water for airing their Glastonbury set. According to The Times, the fallout led to senior BBC staff, including music director Lorna Clarke, stepping back from their roles.
Interestingly, the Glastonbury slot that sparked so much noise came just before another act under investigation—Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap. Their own performance stirred up criticism, particularly when one member encouraged fans to “start a riot” and led chants of “F** Keir Starmer.”*
With political messages, fiery lyrics, and an unapologetic stance, Bob Vylan have always worn controversy as a badge. Formed in 2017, the duo are known for tackling themes like racism, class inequality, and toxic masculinity in their music.
Whether praised or criticised, one thing’s clear—Bob Vylan aren’t backing down anytime soon.
