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The frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

This outspoken music duo ignited significant debate when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling them to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the network's airing of the performance breached editorial standards in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires 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 need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our position 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 added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Other Artists

When he said he felt the band had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."