Bob Vylan's Stance on Glastonbury IDF Chant: "No Remorse"
The lead singer Bobby Vylan has expressed he is "not regretful" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Disputed Chant and Political Responses
The outspoken music duo sparked widespread debate when they initiated crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. The slogan was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."
After the incident, the band was dropped by its representation UTA, and the US state department cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing them to cancel a planned North American concert series.
Interview with the Podcaster
During his first public discussion after the Glastonbury performance, Vylan, using his birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:
"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to go on the festival again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm without regret of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
He noted that the backlash the band encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."
On the Protest's Importance
"I don't want to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their support, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've upset some conservative politician or some rightwing news outlet?"
Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments
This artist said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."
Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's airing of the show breached content standards in regard to harm and offence.
He informed Theroux there was no indication of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Not a soul. Including staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"
Response to Damon Albarn
Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who called the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've seen in my life" and described him as "marching in sport gear."
His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," he remarked.
"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he stated.
"I strongly object with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was appalling."
Intent Behind the Slogan
When questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the chant 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 conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the chant?" he stated.
"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have caught on, would it? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."
Rejection of Antisemitism Allegations
The musician also denied assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported two days.
"I don't think I have caused an unsafe environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'We made me do this'. I might go, oh, I've had a negative effect here," he said.
Contrast with Different Bands
As Vylan said he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than others for speaking about the situation, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestine advocacy.
"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with all things race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient target, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."