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

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

The vocal punk duo sparked widespread controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a planned US and Canada tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview since the festival performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance what if 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."

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

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Reaction and BBC Comments

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the show breached editorial standards in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

When asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported later.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

As Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he said, "because as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."