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The frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

The outspoken punk duo ignited significant debate when they initiated crowd chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader 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 revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial public discussion after the festival performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

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

The artist noted that the backlash the band faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content standards in relation to harm and offence.

He told the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded two days.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers 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 Different Bands

As Vylan said he felt the band had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."