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

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

This outspoken punk duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the festival performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

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

The artist noted that the backlash the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Feedback

The musician said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached content standards in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their set led to a spike in anti-Jewish events recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Bands

When he said he felt the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."