The second half of the controversial rap group, Bob Vylan, can be identified by as Wade Laurence George.
There are two members of the Bob Vylan band; the singer who refers to himself as Bobby Vylan and the drummer who goes by Bobbie Vylan.
On Saturday the duo took to the stage before Kneecap and led controversial chants such as ‘Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]’ and ‘From the river to the sea… Palestine will be free’, regarded by many Jews as a call for Israel’s elimination.
So far the drummer’s identity has remained a secret but he can now be revealed as a 32-year-old former bartender living in East London.
The duo – which led anti-Israel chants during their set at Glastonbury festival over the weekend – have deliberately hid their identities to resist what they see as a surveillance state.
But Bobby Vylan (the singer’s) name was revealed over the weekend as Pascal Robinson-Forster, 34, after he was widely criticised for leading the anti-Israel chants.
And now it has been learned for the first time that the drummer’s name is George and used to work as a bartender at the now-closed Crobar in Soho until 2020 and resides in East London, like his bandmate.
Robinson-Forster stirred up the crowd into repeating anti-Israel chants and advocating the killing of the Israeli Defence Force during a live broadcast.
He shouted, ‘Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defence Forces]’ and ‘From the river to the sea… Palestine will be free’, regarded by many Jews as a call for Israel’s elimination.
Robinson-Forster met Wade in a pub in London in 2017, and they formed in their hometown of Ipswich. Neither are fans of Bob Dylan; they just thought the name was funny.
The drummer, who calls himself Bobbie Vylan, has been revealed as Wade Laurence George (pictured)
Wade, 32, met Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34 , in a London pub and the pair released their debut album We Live Here in 2020
Bobby Vylan of Bob Vylan crowdsurfs in front of the West Holts stage during day four of the Glastonbury Festival 2025 at Worthy Farm, Pilton in Somerset, on Saturday
The frontman previously spoke about their struggles to get the first album cleared, describing it as being too ‘extreme’ for some in the music industry.
He told the website Louder: ‘It was hard to get it released the conventional way – but it was in our power to release it.’
Lyrics on their tracks include saying on Britain Makes Me Violent how there is ‘nothing great’ about Great Britain, while on Reign the frontman declares: ‘Got a message for the thieves in the palace, we want the jewels back.’
Touching on the subject of housing in London, their song GYAG states: ‘Landlord just raised your rent – mate, get yourself a gun.’
As well as tackling subjects such as racism, homophobia, capitalism and toxic masculinity, the duo have also made a big deal about the importance of fatherhood.
The singer known as Bobby Vylan has said his daughter gave their debut album We Live Here its name, and she also featured on the cover of their single Dream Big.
Robinson-Forster has spoken about attending his first pro-Palestine protest at the age of 15 and remembered a ‘feeling of people coming together and using their voice’ before criticising other bands associated with the left for not being more outspoken on Palestine.
Despite the outrage Bobby Vylan, who performs pseudonymously alongside bandmate Bobbie Vylan, posted a photo of some ice cream as he mocked ‘Zionists crying on socials’ in the hours following the backlash
He has responded to the furore with a new statement posted online on Instagram
Their chants on Saturday, however, were met with widespread condemnation in the UK, and the punk duo have had their US visas revoked.
Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi, wrote on X: ‘The airing of vile Jew-hatred at Glastonbury, and the BBC’s belated and mishandled response, brings confidence in our national broadcaster’s ability to treat anti-Semitism seriously to a new low.
‘It should trouble all decent people that now one need only couch their outright incitement to violence and hatred as edgy political commentary for ordinary people to not only fail to see it for what it is, but also to cheer it, chant it and celebrate it. Toxic Jew-hatred is a threat to our entire society.’
They were scheduled to support American-Canadian singer Grandson on his tour starting in Spokane, Washington, in October, but the US Department of State has intervened to prevent them from entering the country.
‘The State Department has revoked the US visas for the members of the Bob Vylan band in light of their hateful tirade at Glastonbury, including leading the crowd in death chants,’ US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau wrote on Monday.
‘Foreigners who glorify violence and hatred are not welcome visitors to our country.’
Glastonbury festival said the remarks ‘crossed a line’, while Keir Starmer, the prime minister, said the change was ‘appalling’ and said groups ‘making threats or inciting violence’ should not be given a platform.
But Bob Vylan singer, Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, doubled down on his comments, writing on Instagram on Sunday: ‘I said what I said’.
Robinson-Foster said his phone had been ‘buzzing nonstop’ with ‘messages of both support and hatred’ in the aftermath of his performance.
Bob Vylan yesterday said they were ‘not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group’.