Bob Vylan will no longer join Gogol Bordello on their upcoming European tour, both acts confirmed Monday (July 14), following the fallout from Bob Vylan’s controversial Glastonbury set last month.
The London-based punk-rap duo first announced their departure via Instagram, citing “logistical complications” as the official reason. “We have decided not to join our friends Gogol Bordello on their upcoming European tour,” they wrote.
“However, we will be heading to Europe in the coming months for both festivals and headline shows. Keep posted for headline EU announcements soon.”
The move comes in the wake of a firestorm sparked by Bob Vylan’s West Holts Stage performance at Glastonbury in June, where they expressed support for Palestine, condemned Israel, and led the crowd in a chant calling for “death to the Israel Defence Forces.” The moment drew immediate backlash online and in international media, with critics calling their comments incendiary.
The duo took the festival’s stage just before Kneecap, another band that has been outspoken in its support of Palestinians amid Israel’s war on Hamas.
The controversy quickly spilled over into their professional relationships. A venue in Cologne, Germany, dropped Gogol Bordello’s show after Bob Vylan was initially announced as support. Gogol Bordello later shared their own statement, clarifying that the Cologne cancellation was “not our decision and beyond our control.”
The group added: “In the aftermath, we needed to evaluate the situation, and we decided to remove BV from the tour until we could fully comprehend the situation.”
Gogol Bordello noted that they reopened discussions with Bob Vylan after the duo posted a longer explanation of their Glastonbury remarks. However, they concluded that it would be “logistically impossible … given the circumstances” to continue with them as support.
“We worked diligently with our friends Bob Vylan to find a solution but in the end it didn’t work out,” they said. “Gogol Bordello is comprised of members from various nationalities and celebrates international understanding. We value freedom of speech from all perspectives.”
In the weeks following the Glastonbury performance, Bob Vylan have faced significant fallout. The pair were removed from the Manchester Radar Festival lineup, had their U.S. visas revoked, and reportedly parted ways with their agents. Damon Albarn weighed in on the controversy, calling it “one of the most spectacular misfires I’ve seen in my life” during an interview last week.
However, the duo has also found high-profile supporters: Public Enemy’s Chuck D voiced solidarity, and Massive Attack issued a statement urging the media to focus instead on “what is happening daily to the people of Gaza.”
In a lengthy statement addressing the backlash, Bob Vylan clarified their position. “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 … We, like those in the spotlight before us, are not the story. We are a distraction from the story. And whatever sanctions we receive will be a distraction.”
Bob Vylan played their first U.K. show since Glastonbury at London’s 100 Club last week, where they asked fans to stop chanting “death to the IDF” after a small group of attendees attempted to revive the chant.
Meanwhile, Gogol Bordello’s European tour will kick off in September and includes a run of U.K. dates, with a headlining show at London’s Electric Ballroom set for Nov. 1.
