Bob Vylan Stance on Festival IDF Chant: "Zero Remorse"
The frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" act at the festival and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Disputed Exclamation and Political Reactions
The outspoken punk pair sparked significant debate when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," referring to the IDF, during their June performance. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and Britain's leader Keir Starmer, who described it as "appalling hate speech."
After the incident, the band was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American state department cancelled the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled US and Canada tour.
Interview with the Podcaster
During his first public discussion since the festival performance, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. After questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:
"Absolutely. For instance what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd say it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
The artist added that the criticism the duo encountered was "minimal compared to what people in Gaza are going through."
Regarding the Chant's Significance
"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have their support, these are the individuals 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 rightwing politician or some conservative news outlet?"
Surprising Response and Broadcaster Feedback
The musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the exclamation, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."
However, the broadcaster's ECU subsequently found that the BBC's broadcast of the performance breached content standards in regard to offense and offence.
Vylan told the host there was no indication of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. Nobody thought anything. Nobody. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"
Response to Blur Frontman
The musician also responded at Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant "a major misstep I've seen in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."
Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.
"I need to say that categorising it as a 'huge mistake' implies that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.
"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' 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 disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."
Intent Behind the Chant
After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," Vylan said the chant itself was "unimportant."
"What is important is the situation that persist to permit that chant to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. In which the local population are being slain at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he stated.
"The phrase rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to entertain. We are there to play music. I am a lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect chant."
Denial of Antisemitism Claims
Vylan also denied assertions from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents reported later.
"I don't think I have created an unsafe atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were large numbers of people going out and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.
Comparison with Different Artists
As Vylan said he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than different artists for speaking about the conflict, the host brought up the Irish group another band, who have also faced criticism for their approach to pro-Palestine messaging.
"That's an interesting one," he said, "since as with all things ethnicity becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the opponent."