Grandson Claims O2 Forum Kentish Town Blocked Bob Vylan from Joining Him Onstage

At his O2 Forum Kentish Town show, Grandson revealed the venue stopped Bob Vylan from performing, citing police concerns over protests.

A Night of Unexpected Restrictions at the O2 Forum Kentish Town

There’s always something electric about a live show—the raw energy, the unfiltered moments, the surprise guests. So, imagine the buzz when Grandson, the electrifying singer known offstage as Jordan Benjamin, was set to bring out Bob Vylan’s frontman Bobby Vylan as a special guest during his O2 Forum Kentish Town concert on March 2nd. Fans were primed for an unforgettable night on the ‘Inertia’ tour, but things took a sudden, frustrating turn.

Just moments before hitting the stage, Grandson was informed that Bobby Vylan wouldn’t be allowed entry to the venue, nor permitted to join him onstage. The reason? According to the venue, Academy Music Group, it was a decision influenced by local police concerns about potential protests threatening audience safety. Talk about a last-minute curveball!

Caught Between Fans and Freedom: Grandson’s Dilemma

Grandson shared his frustration directly on Instagram Stories, pulling back the curtain on what it felt like to be put in such a tight spot. Here’s the crux: Either he could cancel the show, sending thousands of fans who had traveled and purchased tickets home disappointed, or he could proceed and risk having his artistic freedom—his ability to invite whoever he wants to the stage—stripped away.

The stakes were high. “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 fuck I want be infringed on,” Grandson wrote, raw and unfiltered.

In a video from the show, he candidly explained the situation to his audience, making sure fans understood the why behind what could have been perceived as an odd absence. Yet, despite going on, he described the whole experience as feeling “gross.” It’s a reminder that sometimes, the business end of live music clashes with the passion that drives the artists and the fans alike.

The Venue’s Role and Artist Censorship: A Thorny Issue

Grandson didn’t hold back his disappointment with the venue's handling of the situation. He pointed out a bitter irony: venues profit from ticket sales and take a cut of merchandise from outspoken artists, yet aren’t always ready to protect the very messages those artists bring. “You benefit from the ticket sales and take a merch cut from outspoken artists but then aren’t prepared to protect our words,” he lamented. “Really shameful and disappointing.”

Academy Music Group declined to comment on the matter, leaving fans and artists alike wondering about their exact role in the decision.

A History of Collaboration: Grandson and Bob Vylan’s Shared Vision

For those who might not be familiar, this isn’t the first time Grandson and Bob Vylan have joined forces. They previously collaborated on the track “Who’s The Enemy,” a fiery punk-rap anthem that dives headfirst into social and political issues, reflecting the shared fire both artists bring to the table.

Their partnership was set to continue with Bob Vylan supporting Grandson on his U.S. tour last year. However, that plan hit a major roadblock when Bob Vylan’s visas were revoked following a controversial Glastonbury Festival performance. The duo’s set at Glastonbury sparked a media storm when Bobby Vylan led chants of “death, death to the IDF” and “free, free Palestine,” broadcast live on the BBC.

This led to a criminal investigation by Avon and Somerset Police, which was eventually dropped, but not before the fallout caused the pair to be dropped by their agent and barred from entering the U.S. for the tour.

When Music Meets Politics: Grandson’s Defense of Bob Vylan

Grandson stood firmly in support of Bob Vylan amidst the backlash. He called out censorship as a tool of control, highlighting how artists and activists often bear the brunt of criticism instead of those responsible for the systemic issues they address in their music.

“Censorship of art is a tactic of control. They blame artists and activists and not those who [are] 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 touched on a personal note as a Jewish artist, emphasizing his offense at the conflation of anti-military criticism with antisemitism. Pointing to recent actions by the Israeli government, he argued that those have done more to fuel antisemitism than any artist’s advocacy for Palestinian freedom and solidarity.

Grandson remains committed to his collaboration with Bob Vylan, vowing that the feature on his album will stay and that if Bob Vylan gets the chance to tour the U.S., they’ll take the stage together as planned.

Watch: Grandson feat. Bob Vylan – Who’s The Enemy [Official Visualizer]

Art, Activism, and the Clash with Authority

This incident is a vivid example of how music and political activism often collide with institutional authority and security concerns. Artists who speak out face not only public controversy but sometimes direct barriers to their expression, including venue restrictions and visa denials.

Grandson’s experience at the O2 Forum Kentish Town echoes a broader conversation about the limits placed on freedom of expression in art and the pressures that venues and organizers face balancing safety with supporting artists’ messages.

The Show Must Go On—But At What Cost?

Despite the setback, Grandson chose to honor the fans who came out to support him. He delivered a show that embraced the community and connection his performances are known for, creating a space for love and shared experience. Yet the frustration lingers—how can artists truly be free if their choices onstage are policed?

The tension between security concerns and artistic liberty remains a burning question in today’s music scene, making moments like this all the more important to unpack and discuss.

FAQ

• What led to Bob Vylan’s ban from the O2 Forum Kentish Town stage?
  The venue, citing local police concerns over potential protests and audience safety, denied Bob Vylan entry and the chance to perform alongside Grandson.
• Has Grandson worked with Bob Vylan before?
  Yes, they collaborated on the politically charged track “Who’s The Enemy” and had plans for Bob Vylan to support Grandson on his U.S. tour.
• Why were Bob Vylan’s U.S. visas revoked?
  Their visas were revoked following controversy over their Glastonbury Festival performance, which included provocative chants that led to a police investigation.
• Did the police investigation into Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury set result in charges?
  No, the criminal investigation by Avon and Somerset Police was eventually dropped.
• What is Grandson’s stance on censorship in music?
  Grandson sees censorship as a control tactic targeting artists and activists, emphasizing the importance of freedom of expression amid social and political struggles.

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