Bobby Vylan's Stance on Glastonbury IDF Chant: "Zero Remorse"

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

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

This outspoken music duo sparked widespread controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the artists' visas, forcing the duo to call off a planned North American tour.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his first public discussion after the Glastonbury show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose 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 noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

This musician said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the chant, and stated that staff of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show violated content guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he stated.

"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 disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF 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 sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.

"I believe I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out 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 Bands

When he said he thought the band had been targeted more severely than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish band Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since as with all things race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."