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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Reactions

The vocal music pair ignited widespread controversy when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer performance. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the US state department cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling them to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first interview after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "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, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the chant, and stated that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the performance violated content guidelines in relation to harm and hurt.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

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

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Comparison with Different Artists

When he said he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with everything race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."