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

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken music pair sparked significant debate when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the artists' visas, forcing the duo to call off a planned US and Canada tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first interview since the festival performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on the festival 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 added that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

This artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached content guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the local people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

As Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."