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Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

The vocal music pair ignited widespread controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the US government revoked the members' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

He noted that the criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

This artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU later determined that the network's broadcast of the show violated editorial standards in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

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

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

As Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the opponent."