🔗 Share this article

Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Political Reactions

This vocal punk duo sparked widespread controversy when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June set. The slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial public discussion since the Glastonbury show, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have their support, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Comments

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's ECU later determined that the BBC's airing of the show violated editorial guidelines in relation to harm and hurt.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the band or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. 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," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. In which the local people are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

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

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic events reported later.

"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Other Bands

When Vylan mentioned he felt the band had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."