Bob Vylan Position on Festival IDF Chant: "Zero Remorse"
Punk duo frontman Bobby Vylan has stated he is "not regretful" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and declared he would "do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Controversial Exclamation and Political Responses
This outspoken music pair ignited widespread debate when they led crowd chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the IDF, during their summer performance. The chant was censured by festival organizers and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who labeled it as "appalling hate speech."
Following the incident, the band was dropped by its representation United Talent Agency, and the American government cancelled the members' travel documents, forcing the duo to call off a scheduled North American tour.
Interview with Louis Theroux
During his initial public discussion since the festival performance, the musician, whose real name is Pascal Foster, spoke on The Louis Theroux Podcast. After asked if he would repeat his actions, he replied:
"Oh yeah. For instance what if I was to go on 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 backlash the duo encountered was "small compared to what individuals in Palestine are going through."
Regarding the Chant's Importance
"I aim not to overstate the significance of the slogan," he elaborated. "That's not what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their backing, these are the individuals that I'm doing it for, they're the individuals that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've upset some conservative official or some conservative media?"
Unexpected Response and Broadcaster Comments
The musician said he was taken aback by the outcry sparked by the chant, and asserted that staff of BBC employees at Glastonbury told him on the day that the performance was "fantastic."
Yet, the broadcaster's ECU later found that the network's broadcast of the performance breached content standards in relation to offense and offence.
Vylan informed the host there was no indication of a dispute in the moment: "It wasn't like we came off stage, and everyone was like [gasps]. It's just normal. We leave stage. It was normal. Nobody suspected anything. Nobody. Even crew at the BBC were like 'It was fantastic! We loved that!'"
Reply to Blur Frontman
Vylan also responded at the Blur singer, who labeled the chant "one of the most spectacular misfires I've witnessed in my life" and described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."
Albarn's reaction was "letdown" and "showed no self-awareness," he said.
"I need to say that labeling it as a 'huge mistake' implies that in some way the politics of the duo or our position on Palestine's freedom is unplanned," he explained.
"I take great issue 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 wording, I think is disgusting. I think his answer was disgusting."
Intent Behind the Slogan
After questioned what he intended by the phrase "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the chant itself was "insignificant."
"The key issue is the conditions that persist to allow that protest to even occur on that stage. And I mean, the conditions that are present in the region. Where the Palestinian people are being slain at an disturbing rate. What matters about the slogan?" he stated.
"The phrase rhymes," he added: "Stop 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 lyricist. 'Death, Death to IDF' rhymes. Perfect slogan."
Rejection of Hate Speech Allegations
Vylan also denied assertions from the CST, a watchdog and Jewish community safety group, that their set contributed to a rise in antisemitic incidents recorded two days.
"I don't think I have caused an hostile environment for the Jewish people. Suppose there were large numbers of individuals going out and going like 'We made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a negative impact here," he commented.
Comparison with Different Bands
As Vylan said he thought the band had been targeted more heavily than different artists for voicing views about the conflict, the host referenced the Ireland-based group Kneecap, who have also faced backlash for their method to pro-Palestinian advocacy.
"That's an interesting one," Vylan responded, "since as with all things race comes to play a part in that we are an easier target, seriously, than they are because we are already the opponent."