Grandson says he was not allowed to bring Bob Vylan onstage during his show at the O2 Forum Kentish Town.
The artist, whose real name is Jordan Benjamin, performed at the Academy Music Group venue in London on March 2 as part of his Inertia tour. He had planned for Bobby Vylan, the frontman of the duo Bob Vylan, to appear during the concert as a surprise guest.
He explained the situation on his Instagram Story, writing: “As we got ready to rock the O2 Forum Kentish Town tonight, we were informed right before the show that our surprise guest Bobby Vylan would not be allowed in the venue or onstage.
“When I threatened to pull out of the show they said it was out of their hands and due to the local police’s fear of protestors impacting the safety of the audience.”
Grandson said the situation forced him to choose between disappointing fans or accepting the restriction.
He continued: "I was put in the position where I had to either tell the 2,000 people that travelled to the show and paid a ticket tonight to go home, or have my OWN freedom as an artist to invite whoever [the] fuck I want onto the stage and say whatever the f*** I want be infringed on.”
In the end, he decided to go ahead with the performance out of respect for the audience, explaining that he still wanted fans to experience the sense of connection and positivity that his shows are known for.
However, he said the incident left a bad impression and criticised the venue over how the situation was handled.
He added: “You benefit from the ticket sales and take a merch cut from outspoken artists but then aren’t prepared to protect our words.
“Really shameful and disappointing.”
He also addressed the crowd during the concert to explain what had happened and later posted footage of the moment on social media.
Grandson had previously planned to take the punk rap duo on tour with him across the United States last year, but those plans fell through after their visas were cancelled following controversy surrounding their Glastonbury performance.
During that set, which was broadcast live on the BBC, Bob Vylan led the audience in chants of "Free, free Palestine" and "death to the IDF", referencing the Israel Defense Forces.
The group later became the focus of a criminal investigation, although the case was eventually dropped, and their agent later cut ties with them.
At the time, Jewish musician Grandson shared a statement defending the group, writing: "Censorship of art is a tactic of control. They blame artists and activists and not those who responsible for the conditions we rage against.
"From the death spiral of corporate greed and climate change to the genocide of Palestinian lives, the music and the artists are not the problem, we are the symptom of a sick world.”
He also said he was "deeply offended by the conflation of criticism against a military force known for their indiscriminate violence with antisemitism".
He continued: "Bob Vylan are the one feature on my album and that feature will go on. If they have the opportunity to come to the United States, they will join us on the Inertia tour as planned.”
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