A wave of artists have come out in help of Bob Vylan and Kneecap following their provocative Glastonbury 2025 units.
Final night time, information broke that Bob Vylan and Kneecap are actually formally underneath prison investigation following their back-to-back units at Glastonbury this previous weekend.
The Avon and Somerset Police mentioned in an announcement: “This has been recorded as a public order incident presently whereas our enquiries are at an early stage. The investigation shall be evidence-led and can carefully take into account all acceptable laws, together with regarding hate crimes.”
“There’s completely no place in society for hate. Neighbourhood policing groups are talking with individuals of their native communities and key stakeholders to ensure anybody who wants us is aware of that we’re right here for them.”
Please see the assertion beneath with an replace on our investigation into feedback made on stage at Glastonbury Pageant on Saturday.
An accessible model of the assertion could be discovered on our web site: https://t.co/aSjbcIYSky pic.twitter.com/w1BM5Bg5b2
— Avon and Somerset Police (@ASPolice) June 30, 2025
Bob Vylan’s set – which preceded Kneecap’s on the West Holts stage – noticed the rap-punk duo voice their help for Palestine, name out the BBC, Israel, the US and UK governments and extra. Frontman Bobby additionally led chants of “demise, demise to the IDF”.
Kneecap’s full-capacity set – which was pulled from the BBC livestream protection simply hours earlier than they went on – noticed the Irish trio hit out at Keir Starmer and as soon as once more voiced their help for Palestine.
Following the information that the Avon and Somerset Police are actually investigating Bob Vylan and Kneecap underneath attainable prison costs, a number of acts have spoken out in help of their fellow musicians.
In an Instagram Story, former NME cowl stars Lambrini Women wrote in help of Bob Vylan: “All good for bands to be political so long as it’s digestible and commidifiable. when it’s truly NEEDED and warranted and pushing towards the true established order – then time after time once more, traditionally it’s confirmed that mass media and the federal government will villainise artists – have a look at Public Enemy, Nina Simone, Rage Towards The Machine.”
“Artwork creates emotional resonance in ways in which speeches or articles typically can’t,” they continued. “It’s why oppressive regimes usually goal artists, musicians, and writers FIRST. Artwork is among the strongest instruments now we have for activism, they go hand in hand. Don’t be fooled into considering it was something apart from protest. Fucking free Palestine.”
Delicate Play wrote: “Once more the media is making an attempt to distract you from the actual story. The outrage sparked over our brothers Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury is merely a smoke display screen for the shortage of reporting on the destruction of the Palestinian individuals. They’re ravenous youngsters, the place is the media’s outrage at Israel’s continued obliteration of an entire nation? Israel are struggle criminals. Don’t allow them to distract you. Free Palestine.”
Whereas Amyl & The Sniffers have already defended Kneecap and Bob Vylan following their Glastonbury units, the band’s drummer Bryce has shared one other assertion: “The place do you assume your anger must be directed? Are you uncomfortable listening to about genocide in Gaza? Take a beat and take into consideration why musicians take plitical and social stances towards injustices the world over. We now have a platform that tens of millions of others don’t, why anticipate everybody to be silent?”
Bryce continued: “Take a look at your politicians and authorities and the way they reply to this. This dialog is as soon as once more distracted from the actual problem of harmless Palestinians’ lives and household strains being obliterated. Have a take into consideration who the actual villains are on this story.”
In addition to now being underneath prison investigation, Bob Vylan have additionally had their US visas revoked – they have been on account of open for Grandson throughout a US tour later this 12 months. Grandson has now shared his stance: “Censorship of artwork is a tactic of management. They blame artists and activists and never those that chargeable for the situations we rage towards. From the demise spiral of company greed and local weather change to the genocide of Palestinian lives, the music and the artists are usually not the issue, we’re the symptom of a sick world.”
He added: “As a Jewish artist, I’m deeply offended by the conflation of criticism towards a army power recognized for his or her indiscriminate violence with antisemitism. The Israeli authorities has completed extra to exacerbate antisemitism this previous 2 years than any statements by artists advocating for Palestinian freedom and solidarity. Bob Vylan are the one function on my album and that function will go on. If they’ve the chance to return to the USA, they may be a part of us on the ‘Inertia’ tour as deliberate.”
Moreover, Bob Vylan have additionally reportedly been dropped by their agent United Expertise Company (UTA) following the controversy. Whereas the UTA has not acknowledged the alleged severing of ties, Bob Vylan’s pages on their artists websites have been eliminated.
Israel has been finishing up a full-scale army marketing campaign on occupied Gaza for nearly two years, since the October 2023 assault by Hamas on the Israeli music competition Supernova the place 1,195 individuals have been killed.
The UN has discovered Israel’s army actions to be according to genocide, and not less than 56,000 Palestinians have been killed within the battle, in response to the Gaza Well being Ministry. Israel has frequently denied that what’s occurring in Palestine is taken into account a genocide, and has argued that it has not partaken in any struggle crimes.
In different information, Kneecap will reportedly not face any additional motion for his or her alleged previous feedback towards Conservative MPs. In Could, it was reported {that a} video from a Kneecap live performance in 2023 was underneath investigation by counter-terrorism police. It was claimed that the video in query contained footage one of many West Belfast trio allegedly mentioned to the group: “The one good Tory is a lifeless Tory. Kill your native MP.”
A rep for the Metropolitan Police mentioned of the “Kill your native MP” case: “Given the time elapsed between the occasions within the video and the video being dropped at police consideration, any potential abstract solely offences have been past the statutory time restrict for prosecution. Related indictable offences have been thought-about by the investigation group and, based mostly on all the present proof obtainable, a call has been made that no additional motion shall be taken presently.”
The group’s Mo Chara nonetheless, has been charged with a terror offence for allegedly shouting, “up Hamas, up Hezbollah”, whereas additionally displaying a Hezbollah flag onstage throughout a live performance, in help of Palestine within the ongoing Gaza-Palestine genocide.
He appeared on the Westminster Magistrates Courtroom on June 18, the place he was granted unconditional bail for the alleged Hezbollah-related cost, and can seem once more in particular person on the courtroom in August.
