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Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

The vocal punk duo sparked significant controversy when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the artists' visas, compelling them to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his initial interview since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:

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

The artist added that the backlash the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some conservative politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to offense and hurt.

He informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

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

Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.

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

"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

When asked what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the local people are being killed at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

As he said he felt the band had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band another band, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with all things ethnicity becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than they are because we are already the enemy."