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The frontman of Bob 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

This vocal punk duo sparked widespread debate when they initiated audience calls of "down with the IDF," referring to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer performance. This slogan was censured by festival organizers and Britain's leader the prime minister, who described it as "appalling hate speech."

Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency UTA, and the American government cancelled the artists' visas, compelling them to call off a planned North American concert series.

Conversation with the Podcaster

During his first public discussion after the festival performance, Vylan, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would do it all again, he responded:

"Absolutely. Like what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, yes 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 duo encountered was "minimal compared to what individuals in Gaza are going through."

On the Protest's Importance

"I aim not to overstate the significance of the chant," he continued. "That's not what I'm trying to do, but if I have the Palestinian people's support, these are the individuals that I'm advocating for, these are the individuals that I'm speaking up for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Oh, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative media?"

Unexpected Reaction and Broadcaster Comments

The musician said he was taken aback by the uproar sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC staff at the event told him on the same day that the set was "excellent."

Yet, the broadcaster's executive complaints unit later found that the network's broadcast of the performance violated content guidelines in relation to offense and offence.

Vylan told the host there was no sign of a dispute in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we left stage, and everybody was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one suspected anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the BBC were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"

Reply to Damon Albarn

The musician also responded at the Blur singer, who called the protest "a major misstep I've witnessed in my life" and characterized Vylan as "goose-stepping in tennis gear."

His comment was "disappointing" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan remarked.

"I just want to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that in some way the views of the duo or our position 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 continued. "Precisely. And for him to use that language, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."

Meaning Behind the Slogan

After asked what he intended by the chant "Down with the IDF," the artist said the chant itself was "insignificant."

"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage. And I mean, the circumstances that exist in the region. Where the local population are being killed at an disturbing rate. Who cares about the slogan?" he said.

"Death to the IDF rhymes," he noted: "Stop the IDF' does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, right? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a lyricist. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."

Rejection of Hate Speech Claims

The musician also rejected claims from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish safety organisation, that their set led to a rise in anti-Jewish events reported two days.

"I don't think I have created an hostile environment for the Jewish community. If there were large numbers of people acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.

Contrast with Different Bands

As he mentioned he felt the duo had been targeted more severely than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based group another band, who have likewise encountered criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.

"That's an interesting one," he responded, "since as with all things race comes to play a factor in that we are an more convenient villain, no pun intended, than others are because we are already the enemy."