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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Responses

This outspoken punk duo ignited significant debate when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first interview since the festival show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

This artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the performance breached content guidelines in relation to harm and hurt.

He informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off 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 Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When questioned what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic events reported later.

"I believe I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

When he mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."