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

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

This vocal punk duo sparked widespread debate when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June performance. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the US state department cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the festival performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like what if 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 noted that the criticism the duo faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate 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 doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

The musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that staff of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the show breached content standards in relation to harm and hurt.

He informed the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way 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 continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, 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 claims from the CST, a monitoring 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 environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, 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 different artists for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Irish group Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."