Bob Vylan's Position on Festival IDF Chant: "No Regrets"

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

Disputed Exclamation and Official Responses

The vocal music pair sparked widespread debate when they led crowd calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This slogan was condemned by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

After the incident, the band was dropped by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department revoked the artists' visas, forcing the duo to call off a planned US and Canada concert series.

Interview with the Podcaster

In his initial interview since the festival performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would do it all again, he replied:

"Oh yeah. Like suppose I was to perform at Glastonbury again tomorrow, definitely I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."

The artist added that the backlash the duo faced was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are experiencing."

On the Protest's Importance

"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but since I have their backing, they're the people that I'm advocating for, they're the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Surprising Response and BBC Feedback

The artist said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that members of the broadcaster employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the set was "excellent."

However, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the BBC's broadcast of the performance violated content guidelines in relation to offense and hurt.

He informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the protest "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and described Vylan as "marching in sport gear."

His reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.

"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.

"I strongly object with the term 'marching' being used because it's only used around Nazi Germany," he added. "That's it. And for him to use that language, I think is offensive. I think his response was appalling."

Intent Behind the Chant

After questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."

"What is important is the conditions that exist to permit that chant to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in Palestine. In which the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. Who cares about the slogan?" 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. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Antisemitism Claims

Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish safety group, that their performance led to a spike in antisemitic events recorded later.

"I believe I have created an unsafe environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were many individuals of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.

Comparison with Different Artists

When he mentioned he felt the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian messaging.

"That's a notable point," he said, "because as with everything ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are already the opponent."

Adam Ross
Adam Ross

A passionate gamer and tech writer sharing in-depth analysis on game updates and strategies.