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The frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

The outspoken punk duo sparked significant debate when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the American government revoked the members' visas, compelling the duo to call off a planned US and Canada tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first interview after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I aim not 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 backing, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

This musician said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later determined that the network's broadcast of the performance breached editorial guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

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

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

When questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the local people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Bands

As Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Irish band Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "because as with everything race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."