Bob Vylan's Position on Festival IDF Protest: "No Regrets"

Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Disputed Chant and Official Reactions

This outspoken music duo sparked significant controversy when they initiated crowd calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer set. This chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department revoked the artists' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled North American concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

During his first public discussion since the festival show, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

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

He noted that the criticism the duo faced was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, these are the people that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some rightwing official or some rightwing media?"

Unexpected Response and BBC Feedback

The artist said he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

However, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's airing of the show breached content guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

He informed the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Blur Frontman

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

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

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

"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After asked what he meant by the phrase "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."

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

"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect chant."

Denial of Antisemitism Allegations

Vylan also denied claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic events recorded two days.

"I believe I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Contrast with Different Artists

As he mentioned he felt the duo had been targeted more severely than others for voicing views about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "since as with everything ethnicity comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."

Christopher King
Christopher King

Travel enthusiast and hospitality expert with a passion for sharing hidden gems in Italian destinations.