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The 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 Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal punk pair ignited significant debate when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This slogan was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation UTA, and the US government revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing them to call off a planned North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial interview since the festival show, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative media?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

The musician said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later determined that the BBC's airing of the performance violated editorial guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

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

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After asked what he intended by the phrase "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.

"I believe I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

When Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with everything ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."