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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

This outspoken music duo ignited widespread debate when they led crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. This slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation UTA, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first interview after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached editorial guidelines in regard to offense and hurt.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

After asked what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

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

Contrast with Other Artists

When he mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."