Proto-punk/rap duo Bob Vylan have been awarded £16,000 damages following the publication of defamatory claims by the Manchester Evening News about a “Nazi salute” at one of their gigs.
Rahman Lowe Solicitors announced on Friday (November 7) that they had secured a full apology as well as substantial damages on behalf of frontman Bobby Vylan – real name Pascal Robinson – following the publication of an article by Reach plc, publishers of the Manchester Evening News.
The story, titled “Jewish leaders and MPs ‘deeply concerned’ over Bob Vylan gig in Manchester”, was shared on October 6, and falsely alleged that Vylan had “performed Nazi salutes on stage”.
As outlined by Rahman Lowe, the punk duo open every performance with a guided stretching and meditation routine, in which the audience are invited to participate. Part of this practice sees Vylan and bandmate Bobbie Vylan perform sun salutations, a yoga stretch that involves reaching the left arm toward the sky and placing the right palm over the heart.
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“The movement is performed while facing each of the four corners of the room, symbolically connecting with the entire audience,” the solicitors statement said. “It bears no resemblance in form, intention, or context to any fascist salute. This ritual has been an integral part of Bob Vylan’s live performances for several years.”
Bobby Vylan told Clash Magazine last year that the routine had been a staple of the band’s set for so long he couldn’t even remember where or when it started: “I think going out on stage and not being vocal for two and a half/three minutes where we just play and stretch – I feel like it sets a nice intention.”
Reach plc has now published a full correction and apology, agreed to pay Vylan’s legal costs, and undertaken not to repeat the allegation.
The correction stated:
“Our article “Jewish leaders and MPs ‘deeply concerned’ over Bob Vylan gig in Manchester” (October 6) included a statement that the band Bob Vylan had “performed Nazi salutes on stage”.
The band’s singer, Pascal Robinson, has informed us – and we accept – that the gesture in question was in fact a sun salutation, performed by him as part of “guided light stretching and meditation” at the start of all Bob Vylan shows.
We are happy to correct the record and apologise to Mr Robinson, and Bob Vylan, for the error.”
Vylan, ironically possibly the highest profile anti-fascist musicians currently doing the rounds of the UK punk scene, and quite visibly non-Aryan, said in a statement that having something rooted in “mindfulness, peace and connection” be distorted into “a symbol of hate” was outrageous.
“Our art has always stood against oppression in all its forms, racism, fascism, and discrimination and we will never stop using our platform to speak truth to power,” he added. “We are grateful to our legal team at Rahman Lowe for defending our integrity and setting the record straight. The truth matters, and we’re glad it’s now been recognised.
Rahman Lowe Solicitors’ Zillur Rahman also shared a statement pointing to Vylan’s ardent support of Gaza amid the ongoing war with Israel.
“This was an extremely serious and damaging allegation, falsely suggesting that an artist whose entire career is rooted in anti-racism and social justice was performing a Nazi salute,” he said. “In fact, our client merely drew attention to the genocide in Gaza, at a time when many ignored the crimes of the IDF.”
At this year’s Glastonbury Festival, the punk duo delivered a controversial performance on the West Holts Stage, using their platform to voice their support for the people of Palestine, call out the Israeli military and criticise the BBC, as well as leading the crowd in a chant of “death, death to the IDF” which had the right wing press in a lather and promoters pulling gigs, including at Manchester’s Victoria Warehouse a few days later.
The appearance also led to a criminal investigation from Avon and Somerset Police, with no charges brought.
Bobby Vylan recently given his first in-depth interview on the subject on The Louis Theroux Podcast, a move which has led to British Airways pulling its sponsorship of the podcast.
“Make no mistake,” Vylan shared to X/Twitter. “This is a scare tactic. I went on the podcast and as hard as the lobby groups and media tried, they couldn’t twist anything I said. So they have resorted to lobbying for Louis’ sponsorship to be pulled in an attempt to scare others out of giving me a platform.”
He added: “They thought they were going to get a dumb angry punk ranting. Instead they got articulate and considered responses to each question with facts to back it up when needed. Their hope to further vilify me couldn’t run, so they target Louis to make an example for sitting with me.
“The lobby groups, the British government and media are determined to make an example of me, all because I dare to want an end to a genocidal occupying force guilty of war crimes.”
The duo were later forced to reschedule their headline shows in Manchester and Leeds last week “due to political pressure” from MPs and Jewish leaders.
Tickets, for now at least, remain valid for February 2026’s rescheduled dates at Leeds’ O2 Academy and Manchester Academy.
Image: IthakaDarinPappas/Creative Commons
