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

The lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Political Responses

This outspoken music duo sparked widespread debate when they led crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June performance. The slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled 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, compelling the duo to cancel a scheduled North American concert series.

Conversation with Louis Theroux

During his first interview after the festival show, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After questioned 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 do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the criticism the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Chant's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the importance of the slogan," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, these are the people that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the set was "fantastic."

However, the corporation's ECU later determined that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached editorial standards in relation to harm and hurt.

He told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and characterized him as "marching in sport gear."

His comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the duo or our stance 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 Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was appalling."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

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

"The key issue is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. Where the local people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'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 songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.

"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of people going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a bad impact here," he said.

Comparison with Other Bands

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

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

Cynthia Ward
Cynthia Ward

Elara is a passionate horticulturist and interior designer, sharing creative tips for blending nature with home aesthetics.