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

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

This outspoken music duo ignited significant controversy when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling them to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to go on 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 criticism the band faced was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Comments

The artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later found that the network's airing of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to offense and offence.

He told the host there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When asked what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

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

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set led to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Comparison with Different Bands

When he said he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he said, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."