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The lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

This vocal music duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the American government cancelled the members' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his first interview since the festival performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's airing of the performance violated content guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

He told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

When asked what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" 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 play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

As Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have also faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

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