Bob Vylan’s headline-grabbing Glastonbury 2025 performance has become the festival’s most talked-about moment of the year—not just for the sonic impact, but for the incendiary political chants that followed their blistering set. The duo delivered a raw, intense show full of crowd surfing and powerful tracks like “Wicked” and “Bad,” but it was their choice of protest that sent shockwaves through audiences and authorities alike.
Captured in electrifying close-up photos by festivalgoers (shared on r/glastonbury_festival), the energy was undeniable. Fans praised the intensity and celebrated the duo’s willingness to bring politics front and center. Yet, their chants—including “death, death to the IDF” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine must be free”—sparked a global firestorm.
Performance Highlights and Setlist
- Guided Meditation and Light Stretching
- I Heard You Want Your Country Back
- GYAG (Get Yourself a Gun)
- Dream Big
- He’s a Man
- Wicked & Bad
- Everybody Loves the Sunshine (Roy Ayers cover)
- Ring the Alarm
- Northern Line
- Slam Dunk (live debut)
- Pretty Songs (dedicated to pro-Palestine bands)
- We Live Here
- Hunger Games
The set combined socially charged lyrics with kinetic punk energy, energizing the Glastonbury crowd under the West Holts stage on June 28. Yet the politically charged chants at the climax overshadowed the show’s musical achievements in the eyes of many.
Aftermath: Backlash and Visa Revocations
The BBC expressed regret for not interrupting their live broadcast during the controversial chants and swiftly removed Bob Vylan’s set from iPlayer. Authorities escalated tensions when the U.S. State Department revoked visas for both members, condemning the chants as incitement to hatred and violence. The duo was promptly barred from entering the United States, cutting short any plans for a U.S. tour.
Bobby Vylan, unrepentant, told NME, “I said what I said,” reaffirming their intention to use their platform unapologetically for political expression regardless of consequences. This stance has polarized fans and critics alike, sparking widespread discussion about the role of music festivals as political stages.
Community Reaction and Legacy
On Reddit, fans praised the quality of the close-up photos and the raw power of the live experience, while lamenting the scarcity of video footage online. Some highlighted how the band’s politically fearless performance made Glastonbury a memorable forum for activism in 2025. Others debated the appropriateness of the specific chants and the impact on the festival’s reputation.
Regardless of your stance, Bob Vylan’s set at Glastonbury 2025 underscores how music, protest, and public reaction collide on the world’s biggest festival stages—where every shout and chant reverberates far beyond the crowd.
Read More
- US Revokes Bob Vylan’s Visas After Glastonbury Chants – Reuters
- BBC Regrets Continuing Glastonbury Livestream During Bob Vylan’s Controversial Set – RockNews
- Bobby Vylan Defiant After Glastonbury 2025 Chants – NME