Amsterdam concert venue Paradiso has confirmed it has been threatened ahead of a planned performance by British rap-punk act Bob Vylan later this year.
A banner held up outside the venue between Monday night and Tuesday morning read in English “If Bob Vylan plays that night, Amsterdam will stand and fight.” The message was displayed by two masked individuals.
The identities of those behind the threat remain unknown, but police have been informed and a formal report has been filed, Paradiso director Geert van Itallie told music news website 3voor12.
It is not clear who took the photograph of the banner which was circulated online by Israeli information centre Cidi and others on Wednesday.
“It’s becoming a standard routine: whenever you’re under pressure, just claim you’ve been threatened and suddenly you’re the victim!” Cidi said on social media. “Isn’t it actually Paradiso that’s inciting violence by giving a platform to artists like Bob Vylan and Kneecap?”
Support act
Bob Vylan is scheduled to perform at Paradiso on 12 September as the support act for gypsy punk band Gogol Bordello. In a statement, the venue said it was “deeply troubling that pressure is being put on our freedom to programme,” but stressed it would “not give in to such tactics.”
Van Itallie confirmed the show is not being cancelled at this stage, though additional safety measures will be put in place.
Bob Vylan came under fire last month for political statements made during a performance at Glastonbury Festival in Britain. Lead vocalist Bobby Vylan was filmed shouting “Death, death to the IDF” and “Free, free Palestine” from the stage, referring to the Israeli Defence Forces.
The UK police later launched an investigation into whether the remarks constituted a criminal offence. The BBC, which had initially broadcast the performance, described the comments as “deeply offensive” and removed the footage from its online platform.
Singer threatened
Earlier this month, Dutch singer Douwe Bob was threatened after pulling out of a performing at a Jewish children’s football tournament because of Zionist messaging.
A 38-year-old man was arrested in connection with the threats and, according to the AD, is the leader of a conservative group known as Amsterdam Defence Force (ADF).
The group, formed before the Covid‑19 crisis, says it aims to “protect Amsterdam culture” from expats and outsiders and uses the slogan “Amsterdam for Amsterdammers”.
The group is also said to have links to graffiti gangs and to Ajax football club hooligans. Members frequently use slogans such as “fuck the police” and actively support the return of Zwarte Piet and Israel’s bombardments in Gaza.