🔗 Share this article

Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

This vocal punk pair sparked significant debate when they initiated crowd chants of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing them to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview since the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, they're the people that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

The artist said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance breached editorial guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "marching in tennis gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that exist to allow that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. Where the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he said.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

When he said he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."