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

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

The vocal music pair ignited widespread debate when they led crowd chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview since the festival show, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on the festival 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 band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

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

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's airing of the performance violated content guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "marching in tennis gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he 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 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When questioned what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"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 play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Comparison with Other Bands

When he mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."