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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Responses

The vocal music duo sparked widespread controversy when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June performance. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to cancel a planned US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview since the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the duo encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating 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 Broadcaster Feedback

The musician said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the network's airing of the performance violated editorial guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

He told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'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 lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

When he mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have also faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he said, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."