Bob Vylan Stance on Festival IDF Protest: "Zero Remorse"

The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

This outspoken music duo sparked widespread controversy when they initiated crowd chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US state department revoked the artists' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion since the festival show, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

This artist said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

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

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

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

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

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

When asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

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

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

Contrast with Different Artists

When Vylan said he felt the band had been targeted more severely than different artists for speaking about the situation, Theroux referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."