Meet the Controversial Rap-Punk Duo Bob Vylan

Bob Vylan describe themselves on social media as the 'prettiest punk/rap/alt thing you'll ever meet'.

Ipswich punk-rap duo Bob Vylan grabbed the headlines at Glastonbury Festival over the weekend. Organisers of the festival said they were 'appalled' after frontman Bobby Vylan led a crowd in chants of 'death, death to the IDF Israel Defense Forces'. The prime minister condemned them for using what he called 'appalling hate speech'.

The BBC said on Monday it should have cut away from the live broadcast of Bob Vylan's performance. A spokesperson for media watchdog Ofcom said: 'We are very concerned about the live stream of this performance, and the BBC clearly has questions to answer'.

Posting on Instagram on Sunday evening, Bobby - real name Pascal Robinson-Foster - appeared to stand by his on-stage comments, with the caption: 'I said what I said.' He told fans he had been 'inundated' with messages of both 'support and hatred' and also called for 'a change in foreign policy'.

The provocative band were formed in Suffolk in 2017 by the singer, guitarist, and poet alongside drummer Bobbie Vylan. Collectively known as 'the Bobs', they perform under their stage names. The pair blend elements of punk rock and UK grime/hip-hop, drawing influence from the likes of the Sex Pistols, Dizzee Rascal, and Stormzy as well as reggae dancehall, reflecting Robinson-Foster's Jamaican heritage.

Their lyrics tackle themes around racism, police violence, capitalism, and fatherhood; as well as the ills of homophobia and toxic masculinity. After a string of early singles, they released their debut album, We Live Here, in 2020. They then went on to tour with the likes of the Offspring, the Hives, and Biffy Clyro and performed at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in 2021.

Their second (of five) studio albums, Bob Vylan Presents the Price of Life, entered the UK album chart at number 18, winning the Kerrang! magazine award for best album in 2022. The same year, they bagged the inaugural award for best alternative music act at the Mobo Awards.