Bob Vylan Dropped from German Festival Following Anti-Genocide Chant

Berlin (Quds News Network)- A planned September performance by British rap-punk group Bob Vylan in Germany has been canceled, a German music venue confirmed following the band’s appearance at the Glastonbury Festival. This decision comes after the band’s lead singer chanted “Death to the IDF” during their Saturday set on the West Holts Stage, as Israeli forces continue to massacre thousands of Palestinians in Gaza.

A German music venue said that a planned performance by Bob Vylan will not take place. The group were due to open for the band Gogol Bordello on a European tour this autumn, but the venue in Cologne, the Live Music Hall, said in a post on its Instagram account: “The band ‘Bob Vylan’ will NOT perform as a support act on 13.09.2025!”

An employee at the venue told AFP that “we decided together with local organizers that [Bob Vylan] will not perform here after the media uproar.”

The group had also been due to headline the Radar Festival at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester on Saturday, but organisers said they would no longer appear.

In response, Bob Vylan posted a statement on Instagram, telling fans: “Manchester, we will be back.”

Bob Vylan had also been due to perform at French festival Kave Fest on Sunday, but organisers said their appearance there had been pulled too.

The US State Department also canceled the visas of Bob Vylan. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced the decision in a post on X.

“Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country,” Landau wrote. He accused the group of leading a “hateful tirade” and inciting violence.

The band was set to begin a US tour in late October. That plan is now canceled under the State Department’s visa revocation policy, which targets individuals who criticize Israel.

This follows lead vocalist Bobby Vylan’s chants of “Death to the IDF” during their Saturday set on the West Holts Stage. During the show, Bobby Vylan also chanted “Free, free Palestine” and criticized the UK’s media coverage of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.

Meanwhile, a sea of people chanted along with him and raised the Palestinian flag. A large screen behind the stage read:
“United Nations have called it a genocide. The BBC calls it a ‘conflict.’”

Video clips from the performance went viral and were praised by people on social media. In one, Bobby Vylan addresses the crowd:
“Alright, but have you heard this one though? Death, death to the IDF.”

The chant angered Israeli and zionist officials.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer condemned the remarks, calling them “appalling hate speech.”

The Israeli Embassy in London said it was “deeply disturbed” by the rhetoric, which it called “inflammatory and hateful.”

British police confirmed they are reviewing footage of the performance to assess if any laws were broken.

Many praised the chant as a form of political protest against Israeli military crimes in Gaza. The Israeli army has killed over 56,000 people most of whom are children and women. It also continues to impose a siege on over two million people in Gaza, resulting in a severe famine that killed over 60 babies. The Israeli army has been documented demolishing houses for no reason and kidnapping and torturing dozens of civilian Palestinians, including children.

In response to the music festival cancellations, the band reiterated their position, telling followers: “Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting.”

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