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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken punk pair ignited significant controversy when they led crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the US government cancelled the artists' visas, compelling them to call off a planned US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion since the festival show, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant'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 the Palestinian people's support, they're the people 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 upset some conservative official or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Comments

This musician said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated content standards in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

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

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

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

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

As Vylan said he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish group another band, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."