Bob Vylan Position on Glastonbury IDF Protest: "No Regrets"

The lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses

This vocal music duo ignited significant controversy when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This chant was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are 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?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

This musician said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and asserted that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later found that the BBC's airing of the show breached editorial guidelines in regard to offense and offence.

He told Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. Where the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

As he said he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan said, "since as with everything race becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."