Anselmo gigs all go after ‘soul searching’
[We should not forget] or ignore Phil’s vile, deplorable actions and words in 2016, nor his pandering to a crowd in the 1990s.
Tour promoter Ben Mulchin
Promoters bringing controversial Pantera frontman Philip Anselmo to the country next week have spoken out in defence of the tour. Anselmo has made headlines in the past for his past stances on “white power”, in particular when he was filmed ending a concert by giving a Nazi salute and shouting “white power” at a crowd in 2016.
He is due to play shows with The Illegals in Christchurch and Auckland on March 26 and 27 — just over a week after the Christchurch mosque shootings which killed 50 people.
Shortly after the incident in 2016, Anselmo penned an open letter of apology saying, “I am utterly responsible for the mistakes I have made, and can only give you my word to no longer do them in the present, through ACTION, not just mere words. My biggest obstacles are the over-indulging in the booze and blurting out spiteful, ignorant reductions of the human spirit itself.
“I will address these issues, head-on. I’m repulsed by my own actions . . . From the bottom of my heart, and with all sincerity, I once again am truly sorry for the pain I have caused.”
Tour promoter Ben Mulchin of Valhalla Touring said he had given the tour a lot of thought after the Christchurch terror attack and “did have to soul-search” to see if it was right to continue.
“This is a very serious time in our nation’s history. Intolerance and hatred needs to be identified, called out, reduced, enveloped and ideally educated and turned into understanding and empathy. All people are equal, and all people that don’t have respect should be challenged and held accountable.
“I completely agree [we should not forget] or ignore Phil’s vile, deplorable actions and words in 2016 nor his pandering to a crowd in the 1990s . . . there is no excuse,” he says.
In 1994, Anselmo was questioned about allegations of racist elements in his lyrics and his refusal to condemn fans for shouting “white power” at Pantera gigs. The next year he said rappers were “pissing all over white culture” and at a show, announced: “Tonight is a white thing.” And in 2015 he was forced to apologise for incorporating the Confederate flag into cover artwork for his band Superjoint Ritual.