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

Controversial Chant and Official Responses

This vocal music duo sparked significant debate when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview since the festival performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

This musician said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

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

He told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies 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 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of people going out 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 said he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish group another band, who have also encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are already the enemy."