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

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

The vocal punk pair sparked widespread debate when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. The chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the members' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion after the festival show, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes 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 "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

On the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's ECU subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the show breached content guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

When asked what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish events recorded later.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Comparison with Other Bands

When Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, Theroux brought up the Irish band another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the opponent."