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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

This outspoken music pair sparked significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June performance. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the members' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion after the festival performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their 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 regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Feedback

This artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan informed the host 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. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

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

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

When Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since as with everything ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."