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The lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

The vocal punk pair sparked significant controversy when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American state department cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a planned North American tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his initial interview since the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on Glastonbury 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 "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later found that the network's broadcast of the show breached editorial guidelines in relation to harm and hurt.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

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

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported later.

"I believe I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

As Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."