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

Disputed Exclamation and Political Responses

The outspoken punk duo sparked widespread controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their summer set. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the US state department cancelled the members' travel documents, compelling the duo to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his initial public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the backlash the duo faced was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing politician or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

The artist claimed he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "fantastic."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content standards in regard to offense and hurt.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.

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

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. Where the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded later.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of people acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Bands

As Vylan mentioned he thought the band had been criticised more heavily than others for voicing views about the situation, Theroux referenced the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with everything 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."