🔗 Share this article

The lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

This vocal punk pair ignited widespread debate 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 festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the members' visas, forcing them to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first public discussion after the festival performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

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

He noted that the criticism the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

This artist said he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's ECU later found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content guidelines in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

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

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "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 Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance 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 people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Bands

As Vylan said he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."