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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Reactions

The vocal punk duo sparked widespread debate when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. This slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the members' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

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

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely 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 "minimal compared to what people in Palestine 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 the Palestinian people's backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the show breached editorial standards in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. Where the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Comparison with Different Artists

When Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."