🔗 Share this article

The frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

The outspoken punk duo ignited widespread controversy when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation UTA, and the American state department revoked the members' visas, compelling the duo to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion after the festival performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the band faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

The musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU later determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated editorial standards in relation to harm and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the views of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. Where the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

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

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

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

Contrast with Different Bands

When Vylan said he thought the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with everything race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."