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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Political Reactions

This vocal punk pair sparked significant controversy when they led crowd chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the American state department cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a planned North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion after the festival performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

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

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the network's airing of the show breached editorial guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the local population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" 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 sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Bands

When he mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."