🔗 Share this article

The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

The vocal music duo ignited widespread debate when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The chant was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing them to call off a scheduled North American tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his first interview since the festival show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the criticism the band faced was "minimal compared to what people in Palestine are going through."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have the Palestinian people's support, they're 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? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Comments

This musician claimed he was taken aback by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, 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 subsequently found that the network's airing of the show violated editorial guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I take great issue with the term 'marching' 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

After questioned what he meant by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

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

"Death to the IDF 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 play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic events reported later.

"I believe I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Other Artists

When Vylan said he thought the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have also encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

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