Bob Vylan Position on Glastonbury IDF Chant: "Zero Remorse"
The lead singer Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" act at the festival and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Disputed Chant and Official Responses
This outspoken music duo sparked widespread debate when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June set. This slogan was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as "shocking hate speech."
Following the event, Bob Vylan was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the US state department revoked the artists' visas, forcing the duo to call off a planned North American tour.
Conversation with the Podcaster
During his first public discussion since the Glastonbury show, the musician, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would do it all again, he replied:
"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
He noted that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."
On the Protest's Significance
"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've angered some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"
Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments
This artist claimed he was surprised by the uproar triggered by the chant, and asserted that members of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."
However, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's broadcast of the show breached content guidelines in relation to offense and offence.
He told Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"
Response to Blur Frontman
Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."
Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.
"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.
"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' 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 disgusting."
Meaning Behind the Chant
After asked what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."
"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.
"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."
Denial of Hate Speech Claims
The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their set led to a spike in anti-Jewish events recorded two days.
"I believe I have caused an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish community. Suppose there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.
Comparison with Other Artists
As he mentioned he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group another band, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.
"That's a notable point," Vylan responded, "because as with everything race comes to play a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than they are because we are already the opponent."