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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

This outspoken music duo sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. The chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his first interview after the Glastonbury show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

This artist said he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's airing of the performance breached content standards in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the politics of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"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 local population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance led to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Comparison with Different Bands

As he mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish group Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with everything race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."