The frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Disputed Chant and Political Reactions
The outspoken punk pair sparked significant controversy when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. The chant was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."
Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the members' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.
Interview with Louis Theroux
During his first public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:
"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
He noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."
Regarding the Protest's Importance
"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"
Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback
The artist said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."
However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated content guidelines in regard to offense and offence.
Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"
Reply to Damon Albarn
The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."
His reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.
"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.
"I take great issue with the term '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 answer was appalling."
Intent Behind the Chant
After questioned what he meant by the chant "Death to 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 Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.
"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."
Denial of Antisemitism Claims
The musician also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set led to a spike in antisemitic events recorded two days.
"I don't think I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he said.
Comparison with Different Artists
When Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.
"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."
