Bob Vylan will independently perform a concert in Paradiso on September 13. The controversial British duo was originally scheduled to perform a day earlier at the Amsterdam concert hall, as the opening act for Gogol Bordello. That show was canceled after Paradiso received anonymous threats.
Last week, a banner was placed in front of Paradiso with the text “If Bob Vylan plays that night, Amsterdam will stand and fight“. Paradiso then canceled the show.
Gogol Bordello later announced that Bob Vylan had been removed from the entire tour due to “logistical complications.”
Bob Vylan made headlines after the duo shouted “death, death to the Israeli army” during a performance at Glastonbury. In the aftermath, several of the group’s performances have been canceled.
“We are aware that there has been discussion following their performance at Glastonbury, in which they spoke out strongly against the actions of the Israeli army in Gaza,” says Paradiso. “Those words are not ours, but we recognize the right to indignation about war and massive human suffering. In our view, such themes also belong in the public debate and on stage. Paradiso is not a place where criticism is stifled, but where dialogue remains possible.”
The British duo will also perform soon in the 013 concert hall in Tilburg and Doornroosje in Nijmegen. They were originally scheduled to be the opening act for Gogol Bordello there as well.