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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 "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Responses

The outspoken punk pair sparked widespread debate when they led crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. This chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the members' visas, forcing them to call off a scheduled US and Canada tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his first public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the band faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

This musician claimed he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the chant, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's airing of the performance breached content guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

He told 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 come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he remarked.

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

"I strongly object with the phrase '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 offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. In which the local people are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

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

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I don't think I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

When Vylan mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's a notable point," he responded, "because as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the opponent."