Bob Vylan Position on Glastonbury IDF Protest: "No Remorse"
The frontman of Bob Vylan has stated he is "without regret" about his "anti-IDF chant" performance at Glastonbury and asserted he would "repeat it tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
Disputed Exclamation and Official Reactions
The outspoken music pair sparked significant debate when they led audience chants of "death, death to the IDF," pointing to the Israel Defense Forces, during their summer set. This slogan was censured by Glastonbury and UK Prime Minister the prime minister, who described it as "shocking hate speech."
Following the event, Bob Vylan was released by its agency United Talent Agency, and the American government revoked the members' travel documents, forcing them to call off a scheduled US and Canada concert series.
Conversation with the Podcaster
During his first public discussion after the Glastonbury show, the musician, using his real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, spoke on a popular podcast. When questioned if he would repeat his actions, he responded:
"Oh yeah. Like what if I was to perform at the festival again tomorrow, definitely I would do it again. I'm not regretful of it. I'd do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays."
The artist added that the backlash the band encountered was "small compared to what people in Palestine are experiencing."
Regarding the Protest's Significance
"I don't want to exaggerate the significance of the chant," he continued. "It isn't what I'm attempting to do, but if I have their support, they're the people that I'm doing it for, these are the people that I'm being vocal for, then what is there to feel sorry about? Well, because I've angered some conservative official or some conservative media?"
Unexpected Response and BBC Comments
This musician claimed he was surprised by the outcry triggered by the exclamation, and stated that staff of BBC employees at the event told him on the same day that the performance was "fantastic."
Yet, the corporation's executive complaints unit subsequently determined that the network's broadcast of the show violated content guidelines in regard to harm and hurt.
Vylan informed the host there was no sign of a controversy in the immediate aftermath: "It didn't feel like we came off stage, and everybody was like [shocked]. It felt normal. We come off stage. It was normal. No one thought anything. Not a soul. Including crew at the broadcaster were like 'That was fantastic! We loved that!'"
Response to Damon Albarn
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 described him as "goose-stepping in sport gear."
His comment was "letdown" and "lacked self-awareness," Vylan said.
"I need to say that categorising it as a 'spectacular misfire' implies that somehow the views of the duo or our stance on Palestine's freedom is not thought out," he explained.
"I strongly object with the phrase 'goose-stepping' being used because it's typically associated around the Nazis," he continued. "That's it. And for him to use that wording, I think is offensive. I think his response was disgusting."
Intent Behind the Slogan
When questioned what he intended by the chant "Death to the IDF," the artist clarified the slogan itself was "unimportant."
"What is important is the situation that exist to allow that protest to even occur 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 stated.
"Death to the IDF rhymes," he added: "'End, End the IDF does not rhyme, wouldn't have spread, would it? … We are there to perform. We are there to sing songs. I am a songwriter. 'The chant' rhymes. Ideal slogan."
Denial of Hate Speech Claims
Vylan also rejected claims from the Community Security Trust, a monitoring and Jewish community safety group, that their performance contributed to a rise in anti-Jewish incidents recorded two days.
"I don't think I have caused an hostile atmosphere for the Jewish people. If there were many individuals of individuals acting and saying 'Bob Vylan made me do this'. I could go, oh, I've had a bad effect here," he said.
Comparison with Different Bands
When Vylan said he thought the duo had been criticised more heavily than different artists for speaking about the situation, the host brought up the Irish band another band, who have likewise faced criticism for their method to pro-Palestine messaging.
"That's an interesting one," he responded, "because as with all things race becomes a factor in that we are an easier villain, no pun intended, than they are because we are inherently the enemy."