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The lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Responses

This vocal music pair sparked widespread debate when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the performance violated editorial standards 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 came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in tennis gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I take great issue 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 offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the local people 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 songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

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

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

Contrast with Different Artists

As Vylan said he felt the band had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."