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Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

The vocal music pair ignited significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department revoked the artists' visas, compelling the duo to call off a planned North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion since the Glastonbury show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely 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 faced was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, 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? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

This artist said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the chant, and asserted that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in relation to offense and offence.

He told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the politics of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

When questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the local population 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 caught on, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I believe I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Other Artists

When he mentioned he thought the band had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since as with all things race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."