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The frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

This vocal music duo ignited widespread debate when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the American government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a planned North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first interview after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

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

He noted that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

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

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the performance breached editorial guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used 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 Chant

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

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I believe I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

As he mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."