🔗 Share this article

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

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken punk pair ignited widespread controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. The chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

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

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion since the festival performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely 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 criticism the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

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

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated editorial standards in relation to harm and offence.

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

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Slogan

When questioned what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported later.

"I believe I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Comparison with Other Bands

As Vylan said he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish group Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he said, "because as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."