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The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

The outspoken punk pair ignited significant controversy when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the US state department revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the backlash the band faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals 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 Reaction and BBC Feedback

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently found that the network's airing of the show violated content guidelines in relation to harm and hurt.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

When asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish events recorded two days.

"I believe I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Bands

As Vylan said he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with all things race comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."