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The frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Exclamation and Official Responses

This outspoken music duo ignited significant debate when they led audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. This chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the US state department cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a planned North American tour.

Conversation with the Podcaster

In his initial interview since the festival performance, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He noted that the criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, they're the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Feedback

The musician said he was taken aback by the uproar triggered by the exclamation, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the show violated editorial guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

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

Response to Blur Frontman

The musician also hit back at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized him as "marching in tennis gear."

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'marching' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"What is important is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"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. Ideal slogan."

Denial of Hate Speech Allegations

Vylan also rejected assertions from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.

"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

As Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Ireland-based band Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he said, "since as with all things race becomes a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."