Bob Vylan responds to “out of touch ’90s musician” Damon Albarn over Glastonbury IDF comments

Bob Vylan has responded to “out of touch ’90s musician” Damon Albarn over his comments on the band’s Glastonbury 2025 controversy.

• READ MORE: Bob Vylan: “We’ve been screaming about these topics at the top of our lungs for years. Why has it taken this long?”

The rap-punk duo turned heads at the festival this year when they led a “Death, Death to the IDF” chant. In the aftermath, the pair have been subject to a criminal investigation, had shows in Germany and France cancelled, had their agents reportedly cut ties with them and their US visas revoked.

Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn also commented on the controversy, telling The Times: “It was one of the most spectacular misfires I’ve seen in my life. Especially when he started to goose-step in tennis gear. I mean I’ve had my moments — not quite as catastrophic as that but you do get carried away. The old testosterone gets you going. But it’s unfortunate. Everyone’s just so hysterical.”

Now, Bob Vylan have hit out at Albarn for his remarks. “A little help for any other out of touch ’90’s musician asked about Bob Vylan at Glastonbury,” they wrote on X/Twitter.

“Your response should probably resemble something to the affect of: ‘Over 58k Palestinians killed since Oct 7th 2023. Over 700 killed while attempting to get aid. Over 1400 medical workers killed since Oct 7th.

‘Genocide is being live streamed for all to see and the UK is not simply allowing it to continue but facilitating it, along with the United States. Why are we talking about a punk band?’ End.”

1/2. A little help for any other out of touch 90s musician asked about Bob Vylan at Glastonbury. Your response should probably resemble something to the affect of:
“Over 58k Palestinians killed since Oct 7th 2023.
Over 700 killed while attempting to get aid…

— Bob Vylan (@BobbyVylan) July 16, 2025

2/2. Over 1400 medical workers killed since Oct 7th.
Genocide is being live streamed for all to see and the UK is not simply allowing it to continue but facilitating it, along with the United States. Why are we talking about a punk band?” End.

— Bob Vylan (@BobbyVylan) July 16, 2025

Albarn has repeatedly expressed support for Palestine; in the same interview, he told The Times that “part of the huge issue of Palestine is the way that their identity is being eroded so brutally”.

“I’ve been doing this a very long time and I still haven’t got any bloody answers,” he continued to The Times. “You want to say what you believe in and what you feel. That’s important, but it comes with huge caveats. We live and learn, or not.”

Meanwhile, at an appearance alongside Bombay Bicycle Club at Glastonbury 2024, he asked the crowd how they felt about Palestine. “Are you pro-Palestine?” he asked festival-goers last year. “Do you feel that’s an unfair war?

Elsewhere, Bob Vylan recently played their first show since Glastonbury at The 100 Club last week – but urged fans to stop chanting “death, death to the IDF” in the crowd.

As shown in footage captured by The Standard, frontman Bobby Vylan immediately pointed at those chanting and said: “No no no no no, you’re gonna get me in trouble. Apparently, every other chant is fine, but you lot will get me in trouble.” He then led the crowd in a chant of “Free, free Palestine”.

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