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

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

The vocal punk pair ignited widespread controversy when they led crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a planned US and Canada tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview since the festival show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply 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 described Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

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

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

When he said he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based band another band, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."