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Punk duo lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated 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."

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

This outspoken music pair sparked significant debate when they initiated audience chants of "down with the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer performance. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the artists' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion since the festival show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

The musician said he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that members of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's airing of the performance violated content standards in relation to offense and hurt.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

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

"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "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 songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.

"I don't think I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Bands

As Vylan said he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."