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The lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

This vocal music pair sparked significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. This slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the American government revoked the artists' visas, forcing them to call off a planned North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion since the festival performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely 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 encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the performance breached editorial guidelines in relation to harm and hurt.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the local population are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"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 play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish events recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

As Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have also faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with everything race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."