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The frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

The outspoken music duo sparked significant controversy when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department cancelled the artists' visas, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first interview since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes 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 backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

This musician said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's airing of the performance violated content guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

He informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

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

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation 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. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of people going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

As Vylan mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based group another band, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "because as with everything ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."