🔗 Share this article

The frontman Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Responses

This vocal punk pair sparked widespread debate when they led crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer performance. This chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the US government cancelled the artists' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a planned US and Canada concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial public discussion since the Glastonbury performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When asked 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 without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, they're the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Feedback

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

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

Vylan told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It's normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Blur Frontman

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

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Ideal chant."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set led to a spike in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were many individuals of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Artists

As Vylan said he felt the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the conflict, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have also encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an more convenient villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the enemy."