Bob Vylan Stance on Festival IDF Chant: "No Remorse"

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

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

This outspoken music pair sparked significant debate when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the American state department cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling them to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion after the festival show, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say 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 significance 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, they're the people 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 news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician said he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's ECU subsequently found that the network's airing of the performance violated content guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the situation that persist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. In which the local population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" 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 entertain. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Claims

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

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Comparison with Different Artists

As he mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish band another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "because as with all things race comes to play a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."