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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Responses

This outspoken punk pair sparked significant controversy when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the members' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his first interview after the festival show, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the duo faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This artist said he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU later determined that the BBC's airing of the show violated content guidelines in relation to harm and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

His reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the views of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic events recorded two days.

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

Comparison with Other Bands

When Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."