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Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

The vocal punk pair ignited widespread controversy when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. The chant was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American government revoked the members' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first interview after the festival performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up 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

The artist said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the show violated content standards in regard to offense and offence.

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

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

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

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"The key issue is the situation that exist 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 disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

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

Comparison with Different Artists

As he mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."