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The frontman 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."

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

The outspoken punk duo sparked significant debate when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. The chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its agency UTA, and the US state department cancelled the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled North American tour.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first interview after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later determined that the network's airing of the performance violated content standards in regard to offense and offence.

He informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

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

"I take great issue with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Slogan

After questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

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

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

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

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

Comparison with Different Bands

When Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more severely than others for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish group another band, who have also faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with all things race comes to play a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."