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The frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Responses

This vocal music pair sparked significant controversy when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the American government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first interview since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the band faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, 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? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Comments

The musician said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the performance violated content guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

After asked what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. Where the local people are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" 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 perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic events reported later.

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

Comparison with Different Bands

As Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish band another band, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."