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The lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

This outspoken music duo ignited widespread controversy when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, forcing them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked 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."

He noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal 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 artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached content standards in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

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

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

When asked what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. 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 added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I believe I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

As he mentioned he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."