Bob Vylan Announces ‘We Won’t Go Quietly’ UK Tour Following International Festival Controversy
A Summer of Controversy
Punk rap duo Bob Vylan has announced their ‘We Won’t Go Quietly’ UK tour for 2025, following a summer of controversy surrounding their performance at Glastonbury Festival’s Worthy Farm in June.
Known for their music that confronts social issues such as racism, sexism, and economic inequality, the band has faced significant consequences for their festival appearance.
International Repercussions
The controversy led to the US State Department revoking the band’s visas, preventing their planned US tour. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau stated that “foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.”
The fallout has extended to Europe, with the band being removed from the Kave Festival in France and a Gogol Bordello support slot in Cologne, while remaining under criminal investigation.
UK Tour and Response
The newly announced UK tour will begin at Leeds O2 Academy on November 4, with subsequent shows in Manchester, Glasgow, London, Bristol and Birmingham. Tickets will be available for general sale from September 12.
At a recent performance, the band addressed the controversy, stating: “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.”
Industry Impact and Support
While Damon Albarn has called the situation “one of the most spectacular misfires I’ve seen in my life,” the duo has received support from notable figures in the music industry, including Public Enemy’s Chuck D, while Massive Attack has urged media to focus on broader issues.
In response to recent events, the band has remained defiant, declaring: “After all the attempts to silence us, we’re about to be louder than ever. We won’t go quietly!”
