Damon Albarn would “like to work with musicians in Palestine and Israel” but calls Bob Vylan Glastonbury chant “a spectacular misfire”

The UN has found Israel’s military actions to be consistent with genocide, and more than 57,800 people have since been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry (via BBC News). Israel has continually denied that what’s going on in Palestine is considered a genocide, and has argued that it has not partaken in any war crimes.

“Africa Express could go into Palestine,” Albarn added. “It’s not about politics, it’s about culture. And so I would also want to go to Israel and bring people together. If I was asked to go to Russia, I would go. I’d go to Ukraine too.”

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The comments were made on the heels of Bob Vylan playing a headline-grabbing set on Glastonbury’s West Holts Stage, in which they voiced their support for Palestine, criticised Israel and led the crowd in a chant calling for death to the Israel Defence Forces. The subsequent fallout saw them come under a criminal investigation and have shows in Germany and France dropped, while their agents have reportedly cut ties with them, and their US visas have been revoked.

“It was one of the most spectacular misfires I’ve seen in my life,” Albarn said of the performance. “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.”

He had previously used an appearance at the Worthy Farm festival alongside Bombay Bicycle Club to ask 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?”

Silence is not an option. pic.twitter.com/i5ubnDntUo

— Bob Vylan (@BobbyVylan) July 1, 2025

“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.

“People get angry, say stupid things because they’re not communicating with each other properly. Therein lies the rub, as dear Shakespeare once said.”

As for Bob Vylan, they played their first show since Glastonbury at The 100 Club last week, and urged fans to stop repeating the “death to the IDF” chant when a group of gig-goers attempted to revive it.

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”.

100Club last night. Where next? pic.twitter.com/oFeirElgvK

— Bob Vylan (@BobbyVylan) July 10, 2025

A BBC Music boss reportedly stepped down following the backlash against the Glastonbury gig being broadcast live, with the corporation describing Vylan’s comments as “offensive and deplorable”. They have also said they will no longer live broadcast any performances deemed “high risk” in the future.

A number of artists spoke out in support of Vylan, including Lambrini Girls, Amyl & The Sniffers and Soft Play, as well as Massive Attack, who urged the media to focus on “what is happening daily to the people of Gaza”, and Chuck D, who said “we have to be able to fight for peace and love by any means necessary”.

Bob Vylan were dropped from Manchester’s Radar Festival too, although organisers made it clear that they did not want to do this. Then, several bands pulled out of the festival in a show of solidarity with Bob Vylan, including Hero In Error.