Bob Vylan's Stance on Festival Israel Defense Forces Protest: "No Regrets"
The lead singer of Bob Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Disputed Exclamation and Political Reactions
The vocal music pair sparked widespread debate when they led audience calls of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their June performance. The chant was condemned by Glastonbury and Britain's leader the prime minister, who labeled it as "shocking hate speech."
After the incident, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the US government cancelled the artists' travel documents, forcing them to call off a planned US and Canada tour.
Interview with Louis Theroux
In his initial interview after the festival performance, the musician, whose birth name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, conversed on a popular podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:
"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would repeat it. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
He added that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what people in Palestine are going through."
On the Chant's Significance
"I aim not to exaggerate the significance of the slogan," he continued. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, they're the people that I'm doing it for, they're the people that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some rightwing official or some conservative news outlet?"
Unexpected Response and BBC Comments
The artist claimed he was surprised by the uproar sparked by the chant, and stated that staff of the broadcaster staff at Glastonbury told him on the same day that the performance was "excellent."
Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit later found that the network's airing of the show breached content standards in regard to harm and offence.
Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everyone was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We leave stage. It's normal. No one thought anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We enjoyed that!'"
Response to Blur Frontman
Vylan also hit back at the Blur singer, who labeled the protest "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in sport gear."
Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.
"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' suggests that somehow the views of the band or our position on Palestinian liberation is unplanned," he explained.
"I take great issue with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he added. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his response was disgusting."
Intent Behind the Slogan
After asked what he meant by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "unimportant."
"What is important is the situation that persist to allow that protest to even take place on that platform. And I mean, the conditions that exist in Palestine. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an alarming rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.
"The phrase rhymes," he noted: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to play music. I am a songwriter. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."
Rejection of Antisemitism Claims
The musician also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a watchdog and Jewish community safety organisation, that their performance contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents reported later.
"I believe I have created an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I might go, oof, I've had a bad impact here," he commented.
Contrast with Different Bands
When Vylan said he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than others for voicing views about the conflict, Theroux brought up the Ireland-based band another band, who have likewise encountered backlash for their approach to pro-Palestinian advocacy.
"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "because as with all things ethnicity comes to play a part in that we are an easier villain, seriously, than others are because we are inherently the opponent."