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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" 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 Political Reactions

This outspoken music pair sparked significant debate when they led audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion after the festival performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

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

He noted that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," 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, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's broadcast of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to harm and hurt.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" 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. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

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

Contrast with Other Bands

When Vylan said he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with everything race comes to play a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."