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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Responses

The outspoken punk duo ignited widespread controversy when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. This chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US state department revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first interview since the festival performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the people that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

This musician said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU later found that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated content guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. Where the local people are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

"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 play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

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

"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Artists

As Vylan said he felt the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."