🔗 Share this article

The frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

The vocal music pair sparked widespread controversy when they initiated audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a planned North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion after the Glastonbury show, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the backlash the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

This artist said he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the show breached content guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the views of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

When questioned what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

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

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. 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 assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

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

Contrast with Different Artists

When Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."