Bob Vylan Position on Festival Israel Defense Forces Chant: "Zero Regrets"

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

Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions

The vocal music pair ignited significant debate when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. The slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a planned US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his first interview after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

The artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

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

He informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

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

His reaction 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 views of the band or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

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

Intent Behind the Slogan

After asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. In which the local people are being killed at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance led to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals going out and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

As Vylan mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."