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

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

This outspoken music pair ignited widespread controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview since the festival show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated content guidelines in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

After asked what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported later.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of people going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

As Vylan said he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the opponent."