Bob Vylan Position on Glastonbury IDF Chant: "No Regrets"

The frontman of Bob Vylan has stated 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 Chant and Official Responses

This vocal music duo sparked widespread debate when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at 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 backlash the band faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

This musician said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated editorial guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

When asked what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. Where the local population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

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

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

As Vylan mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier target, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."