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

Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal punk pair sparked significant controversy when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the US state department revoked the members' visas, forcing them to call off a planned US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview since the festival show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Comments

The artist claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's airing of the performance breached content standards in regard to harm and hurt.

He informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

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

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

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

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

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. Where the local people are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase 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 songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

When Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish band another band, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."