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The lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

This vocal punk pair ignited significant controversy when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his first interview after the festival performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Response and BBC Comments

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's airing of the show violated editorial standards in relation to harm and hurt.

He informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

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

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

When he mentioned he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Irish group another band, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with all things race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."