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

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

The outspoken music duo ignited widespread debate when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the artists' visas, compelling them to call off a planned North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first interview since the festival performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

The artist noted that the backlash the duo faced was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

The artist said he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to offense and hurt.

He told Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "marching in tennis gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the politics of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the local population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop 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 lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

As he said he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "because as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the opponent."