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Punk duo lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

Controversial Chant and Official Reactions

This outspoken punk pair sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. The slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the incident, the band was released by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the members' visas, forcing the duo to cancel a scheduled US and Canada concert series.

Interview with Louis Theroux

In his first interview after the festival show, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist noted that the backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are experiencing."

On the Chant's Significance

"I don't want to exaggerate the importance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their support, they're the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've angered some rightwing official or some rightwing news outlet?"

Surprising Reaction and BBC Comments

The musician claimed he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the chant, and stated that members of BBC employees 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 airing of the performance breached content guidelines in regard to harm and offence.

Vylan informed Theroux there was no sign of a dispute in the moment: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Even crew at the broadcaster were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Response to Damon Albarn

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

Albarn's comment was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that in some way the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is not thought out," he explained.

"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his answer was disgusting."

Intent Behind the Chant

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

"The key issue is the situation that exist to permit that protest to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that are present in the region. In which the local people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the chant?" he said.

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

Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations

The musician also denied claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish events recorded later.

"I don't think I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of individuals acting and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

When he said he thought the band had been criticised more severely than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host referenced the Irish band another band, who have also encountered backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.

"That's an interesting one," he said, "because as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than they are because we are inherently the opponent."