Bob Vylan Defiant Over ‘Death to the IDF‘ Chant at Glastonbury,Claims No Regret
Glastonbury performer Bob Vylan has stated he would repeat the “Death to the IDF” chant from their set,dismissing criticism as stemming from the band being “an easier villain” due to their race. The duo’s performance sparked controversy and a reported spike in antisemitic incidents, but Vylan maintains the chant itself is secondary to the conditions in Palestine.
In an interview, Vylan described the reaction to the chant as surprisingly muted, claiming even BBC staff expressed positive feedback. He directly addressed criticism from Blur’s Damon Albarn, who labeled the chant a “spectacular misfire” and likened Vylan to “goose-stepping in tennis gear,” calling Albarn’s language “nauseating” and the comparison to Nazi Germany especially offensive. vylan argued the focus should be on the “conditions that exist to allow that chant to even take place on that stage,” specifically the ongoing violence against Palestinians.
Vylan defended the lyrical choice, noting “‘Death, Death to IDF’ rhymes,” while “‘End, End the IDF’ does not rhyme.” He also rejected assertions from the Community Security trust (CST) that the performance contributed to a reported increase in antisemitic incidents following the festival on August 5, 2025, stating he hadn’t observed evidence of his music directly inciting harm.
The artist acknowledged facing disproportionate scrutiny compared to other artists addressing the conflict, citing the Irish band Kneecap, who have also received backlash for pro-Palestine messaging. Vylan suggested race played a role, positioning Bob Vylan as “an easier villain” than Kneecap.
