🔗 Share this article

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

Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses

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

Following the event, the band was dropped by its agency UTA, and the American state department revoked the members' visas, compelling them to call off a planned North American tour.

Interview with Louis Theroux

During his initial interview after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on The Louis Theroux Podcast. When asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:

"Oh yeah. For instance suppose I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

He added that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

Regarding the Protest's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's backing, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some rightwing politician or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback

The artist claimed he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and stated that members of the broadcaster employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."

Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated editorial standards in regard to offense and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

Albarn's reaction was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.

"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' suggests that in some way the politics of the band or our stance on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he stated.

"I strongly object with the phrase '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 appalling."

Meaning Behind the Chant

After questioned what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the slogan itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even occur on that platform. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in Palestine. In which the Palestinian population are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the chant?" he stated.

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

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

The musician also denied claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported later.

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

Contrast with Different Artists

When Vylan mentioned he felt the duo had been targeted more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, the host referenced the Irish group Kneecap, who have also encountered criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "because as with everything ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."