🔗 Share this article

The lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

The vocal music duo sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American state department revoked the members' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a planned North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

The artist added that the criticism the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

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

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later found that the network's airing of the performance violated editorial standards in relation to offense and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the politics of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded two days.

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

Comparison with Different Artists

When he mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."