🔗 Share this article

The lead singer of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

The vocal punk pair ignited widespread controversy when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer performance. The slogan was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing them to call off a planned US and Canada tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

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

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments

This musician said he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC staff at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the network's airing of the performance violated editorial guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

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

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

When questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the situation that exist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End 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. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a spike in anti-Jewish events recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere 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, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

As he mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux brought up the Irish group another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the opponent."