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The lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Reactions

This vocal music pair ignited widespread controversy when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. This chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency UTA, and the US state department revoked the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a planned North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial interview after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"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 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? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

This artist claimed he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the chant, and stated that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

However, the corporation's ECU later found that the network's airing of the show violated editorial guidelines in relation to harm and hurt.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication 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. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

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

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

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

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the local population are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

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

"I believe I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Artists

As he mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Irish band another band, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."