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The frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Political Reactions

This vocal music pair sparked significant debate when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the American state department cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview since the Glastonbury show, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

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

The artist added that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's airing of the show violated content standards in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the politics of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"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 Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop 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. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.

"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

As Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish group another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with everything race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."