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Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

The vocal music duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing them to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first interview since the festival performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to go on 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 added that the backlash the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the people that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

The artist said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to harm and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

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

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

When asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

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

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."