Bob Vylan Stance on Glastonbury Israel Defense Forces Protest: "Zero Remorse"

The frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Responses

This vocal music pair ignited widespread controversy when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was released by its representation UTA, and the American government revoked the members' travel documents, compelling them to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial interview since the Glastonbury show, Vylan, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the duo faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, these are the people 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 angered some conservative politician or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

The musician said he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that members of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."

Yet, the corporation's ECU later determined that the network's broadcast of the show violated editorial standards in regard to harm and offence.

He informed Theroux there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

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

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

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

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that exist to permit that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian 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 songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I believe I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Contrast with Other Bands

When Vylan said he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

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