🔗 Share this article

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

Controversial Exclamation and Official Reactions

This outspoken punk pair ignited significant debate when they initiated crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his first interview after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. 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 "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some rightwing media?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently found that the BBC's airing of the performance breached editorial standards in regard to offense and hurt.

He informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "marching in tennis gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"What is important is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a spike in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

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

Comparison with Different Bands

As Vylan said he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with everything race becomes a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."