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The frontman 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."

Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses

This outspoken punk duo ignited widespread debate when they initiated crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

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

The artist noted that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician said he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

He informed the host there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"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 stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Contrast with Different Artists

As Vylan mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have also encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "since as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."