Bobby Vylan Position on Glastonbury Israel Defense Forces Chant: "No Regrets"
Punk duo frontman of Bob Vylan has expressed he is "without regret" about his "death, death to the IDF" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Disputed Chant and Official Reactions
This outspoken music duo sparked significant debate when they led crowd calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their June set. The chant was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."
Following the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its representation UTA, and the US government revoked the artists' visas, compelling them to cancel a scheduled North American tour.
Conversation with Louis Theroux
During his initial public discussion after the festival show, Vylan, whose real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he responded:
"Absolutely. Like suppose I was to perform at 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 added that the criticism the band encountered was "small compared to what people in Gaza are going through."
On the Chant's Significance
"I aim not to overstate the significance of the chant," he elaborated. "It isn't what I'm trying to do, but since I have their backing, these are the people that I'm advocating for, these are the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative news outlet?"
Surprising Reaction and Broadcaster Comments
This artist claimed he was surprised by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of the broadcaster staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."
Yet, the corporation's ECU later found that the network's broadcast of the show 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 wasn't like we left stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Even staff at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"
Response to Blur Frontman
Vylan also responded at Damon Albarn, who called the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."
Albarn's comment was "disappointing" and "showed no self-awareness," Vylan remarked.
"I just want to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.
"I take great issue with the term 'goose-stepping' being used because it's only used around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."
Intent Behind the Chant
When questioned what he meant by the chant "Down with the IDF," Vylan clarified the slogan itself was "insignificant."
"The key issue is the conditions that exist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that exist in the region. In which the Palestinian people are being killed at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.
"Death to the IDF 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. 'The chant' rhymes. Perfect slogan."
Denial of Antisemitism Claims
Vylan also rejected claims from the CST, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a spike in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.
"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of people going out and going like 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he commented.
Comparison with Different Artists
When he said he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the situation, the host referenced the Irish band another band, who have also faced backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian messaging.
"That's an interesting one," Vylan said, "since as with everything race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are already the enemy."