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Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Reactions

This outspoken punk duo ignited widespread controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his first interview since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

This artist said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

As he said he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."