Kathy Flynn, WickedGoddessPhotography.com / Gilbert Carrasquillo, Getty Images The rift between longtime Pantera bandmates Phil Anselmo and Vinnie Paul has been well documented, but that hasn’t kept Anselmo from offering olive branches to open communication in the media over the years. The former Pantera frontman once again opened up about his onetime band and their disintegrated relationships in Revolver magazine’s latest issue, which recently hit newsstands. “I feel bad for Vince,” explained Anselmo in the interview (excerpted by Blabbermouth ). “People should pity the guy. I wasn’t there when Dimebag [Darrell] was murdered, but he sure as f— was. That’s his flesh and blood, murdered right in front of him. It’s a shame that Vince never reached out to [bassist] Rex [Brown] and I. I think the healing process would have been beneficial to him, instead of his knee-jerk reaction to fear and his therapy through tit bars and whiskey.” The vocalist added that while he will admit his role through a fair share of mistakes that led to the downfall of Pantera, he wasn’t alone. “One guy can’t break up a band,” says Anselmo. “You have to understand, it goes all four ways when a band breaks up. Yes, I made mistakes. Yes, there was a lack of communication on both sides and some of it is my fault — a lot of it is my fault.” Anselmo also insists that he would have repaired his relationship with Dimebag had the guitar legend not been slain. “We would have made amends. I would like to think he would be proud of me for pulling myself out of the muck, the abyss,” says the frontman. “I just choose to remember the positive things. He was almost like the perfect counterpoint to me. We may have clashed to a certain extent, but we would always find a happy medium. It was a vital relationship that I miss greatiy.” [button href=”http://loudwire.com/vinnie-paul-on-pantera-reunion-it-aint-gonna-happen/” title=”Next: Vinnie Paul Says Pantera Reunion ‘Ain’t Gonna Happen'” align=”center”]
Posts Tagged ‘Phil Anselmo’
Pantera’s Phil Anselmo: ‘It’s a Shame’ Vinnie Paul Never Reached Out to Me
February 17th, 2013 
Metalkult 
Posted in News 
Tags: a-happy-medium, anselmo-, fault, guitar, interview, media, over-the-years, pantera, pantera-reunion, Phil Anselmo, rock, vinnie-paul 
No Comments »Pantera vs. Drowning Pool – 2013 Loudwire Rock Bowl, Round 1
January 24th, 2013 Metalkult There may be no more testosterone-fueled pairing in our 2013 Loudwire Rock Bowl than this one. On one hand you’ve got the in-your-face aggression of Pantera versus the all-out brutality of Drowning Pool , and you get to determine which band’s track gets you more fired up for football. Pantera’s ‘F—ing Hostile’ is exactly what the name says. Between the amped up guitar play of Dimebag Darrell and the speedy drumming of Vinnie Paul , there’s no way this song could do anything but get you hyped up into some sort of frenzy. Add in Phil Anselmo ‘s lyrics of aggression and you’ve got the makings of a song that gives you pent up energy to spare. Meanwhile, Drowning Pool’s ‘Bodies’ has long been associated with sporting events due to the aggressive nature of its lyrics. With late vocalist Dave Williams’ repetitive chorus begging, “ Let the bodies hit the floor/ Let the bodies hit the floor ,” this song seems the perfect fit to soundtrack a massive collision, or, at the very least, to unleash some pent up fury. So which one of these high-energy rockers will advance in the 2013 Loudwire Rock Bowl? You tell us. Listen to both tracks below, then vote for your favorite in the poll provided. You can also vote in the next matchup by clicking the red button at the bottom of this page. Voting in the first round runs through Sunday, Jan. 27, at 11:59PM ET and you may vote once per hour for your favorite. Hear Pantera’s ‘F—ing Hostile’ Hear Drowning Pool’s ‘Bodies’ Sorry, you need to have javascript running to see this poll. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/system-of-a-down-vs-korn-2013-loudwire-rock-bowl-round-1/” title=”Next Rock Bowl Matchup: System of a Down vs. Korn” align=”center”]
Posted in News Tags: button-at-the, drowning, floor, have-javascript, pantera, Phil Anselmo, poll, song No Comments »Philip H. Anselmo / Warbeast, ‘War of the Gargantuas’ – Split EP Review
January 11th, 2013 Metalkult Housecore In one of the more interesting splits we’ve encountered as of late, Philip H. Anselmo , who requires not a single word of introduction, courtesy of his legacy, and Texas thrashers Warbeast have released their ‘War of the Gargantuas’ split through Anselmo’s own Housecore Records. The four-song EP boasts two songs per artist, and is historical simply because it is the first time Anselmo has released any solo music (with the Illegals as his backing band) during his 30 years of active service in the name of heavy metal. We’ve never had all of our senses assaulted at once, but how we assume that sensation would feel is created by this short, blast of an EP. It’s tightly constructed. It’s loud. It’s extreme. It’s all the things we like in our metal. It’s like each artist is trying to “out metal” the other and that’s a good thing for metal fans. Inside, you’ll find lots of squeally vocals, galloping solos and heavy metal that never, ever compromises. The first track,’Conflict,’ which is one from Philip H. Anselmo & the Illegals, is shrieky, post- Pantera Anselmo, but he still has the same dangerous bark and damaging bite. How a man who has been destroying mics for decades can still summon this much strength and deliver this kind of bone-liquefying vocal terror is beyond us. He is no mere mortal, nor mere metal. He is an elite frontman with few (if any) peers, especially when he lets ‘er rip, as is the case here. The next track, ‘Birth of a Psycho’ by Warbeast, is a hulking slab of dirty, gutter-dwelling, sludge-caked punk rock with a little bit of blackened grime and some deathy riffs thrown in for good measure. It culls influence from several metal sub-genres. The band takes guitars grooves and vicious vocals and throws ‘em all into a gnarly, metallic bonfire. The brilliantly titled ‘Family, ‘Friends’ and Associates’ is an Anselmo track which gets the point across in a few words, and is loaded with screamy vocals, with Anselmo’s authoratative spoken words behind it. The vocal spasms are supplemented by chunky, extra fast riffery, squalls and some Motorhead-y solos. When Anselmo barks , “I’m calling you out, ” you have a choice to either meet him in the ring or cower in the corner. We think most people will be doing the latter, based on the ferocity in which he makes the statement. Hands down, it’s the best track of the four. The EP ends with ‘It,’ a Warbeast track that is also fast with machine-gunned riffing, and some smash-til-your-arms-fall-off drumming. It’s an exercise in extreme metal, and the right amount of groove. No wonder Anselmo chose to appear on an EP with them and sign them to his label. No false metal here. It’s about as trend-free and trend-killing as it gets. Anselmo’s music often has a touch of melody, which he forgoes here. But everything is equally as memorable. Warbeast are just that – a fighting, battling beast. We wish ‘War of the Gargantuas’ was a bit longer, but it offers a nice taste of what to expect on Warbeast’s upcoming full-length, ‘Destroy,’ and Anselmo’s debut solo album, both due this year. In the meantime, pick up the EP at iTunes and catch Anselmo’s band Down on tour with Warbeast this winter. ?
Posted in News Tags: a-few-words, a-little-bit, a-single-word, anselmo-, destroying-mics, gargantuas, guitars-grooves, metal, Phil Anselmo, warbeast- No Comments »Phil Anselmo Eyes Summer Release for Solo Album
January 7th, 2013 Metalkult Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Pantera / Down singer Phil Anselmo fans will get a taste of his solo material Tuesday, Jan. 8, with the release of the split EP titled ‘ War of the Gargantuas ‘ with Warbeast . But, Anselmo s ays that his two songs on the split are not in the same vein as his upcoming solo album. “I think those songs are still a far cry from the full-length that will be coming out this upcoming summer though,” Anselmo tells ArtistDirect.com . “To me, they’re more in line with the straight ahead songs I’ve come up with. Be prepared for a different listen when you hear the upcoming full-length. I wanted to do something different with a lot of f–king energy that would, I guess, come off as faster or more energetic than your basic fast playing at a million miles an hour with blast beats.” When it comes to his lyrical approach, Anselmo said it’s much more direct than his band Down . “With the Down lyrics, the listeners can take them and interpret them in their own ways. With the solo s–t, I’m being very direct. There isn’t any wordplay. There isn’t any hidden message. It’s all right there in front of you. There it is.” For more from Anselmo, read the full interview at ArtistDirect.com . And listen to samples from the Anselmo / Warbeast split EP here . Meanwhile, Down and Warbeast kick off a U.S. tour Friday in Houston, Texas. Down are touring in support of ‘Down IV Part I – The Purple EP,’ which was released in September. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/down-new-musical-directions-recording-while-still-alive-being-handsome/” title=”Watch Loudwire’s Video Interview With Down” align=”center”] ?
Posted in News Tags: band, from-the-full, full, metal, news, pantera, Phil Anselmo, solo, upcoming, watch-loudwire No Comments »Phil Anselmo Open to Pantera Tour Featuring Zakk Wylde Filling in for Late Dimebag Darrell
September 28th, 2012 Metalkult Liz Ramanand, Loudwire / Ethan Miller, Getty Images Throughout the past year, the surviving members of Pantera have commented on the possibility of Zakk Wylde filling in for the late Dimebag Darrell if the band were ever to reunite. While it’s all been speculation thus far, singer Phil Anselmo now reveals that he recently discussed the topic with Wylde himself. Anselmo says that both he and Wylde would be open to it, but that his strained relationship with Dimebag’s brother and Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, is a major obstacle to overcome first. “I talked to Zakk about two weeks ago, and he’s very open for it,” Anselmo tells the Village Voice . “He’s got an open mind about it. But, truth be told, Vince has got a grudge against me that is really unfounded. And, honestly, I’ve always had a wide-open door when it comes to Vince.” The singer adds, “If it takes me standin’ there and lettin’ that little guy punch me in the f—in’ face repeatedly, over and over and over, til his hands were tired of hittin’ my rock-hard f—in’ head, as long as we could sit down and talk afterwards, I’m all for it, man.” Earlier this year, Wylde said he would be honored to fill in for Dime if he got the call. “I love all those guys,” Wylde told the radio station Banana 101.5 . ”If they were ever to actually do that and they asked me — of course I would do that in honor of Dimebag. Why wouldn’t I? It would just be an amazingly beautiful thing to celebrate Dime’s greatness and what the band achieved.” Vinnie Paul, meanwhile, may have started the whole conversation when he said , “If [a Pantera reunion] ever were to happen, [Zakk] would be the guy [to step in for Dimebag]. But I honestly think, out of respect for my brother, we should just leave the 14 amazing years Pantera had be.” Whether fans are in favor of this potential reunion or not, Anselmo warns that the idea is still far-fetched at this point. ”I didn’t say that the Pantera thing is a realistic thing,” he explains in the Village Voice interview. “I don’t think that’s the important thing. I think what the important thing is, what Zakk and I discussed, is just Vince actually dropping his guard and realizing there is no treachery afoot.” Dimebag Darrell was tragically gunned down onstage by a deranged concertgoer while performing with Damageplan on Dec. 8, 2004, in Columbus, Ohio. Anselmo is currently out on tour with his band Down , who just released a new EP titled ‘Down IV Part I: The Purple EP.’ Vinnie Paul’s current group, Hellyeah , released their latest album, ‘Band of Brothers,’ earlier this year. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/phil-anselmo-talks-upcoming-down-ep-solo-album-more/” title=”Next: Phil Anselmo Discusses Down EP, Solo Album + Tour” align=”center”]
Posted in News Tags: dimebag-darrell, face-repeatedly, getty-images, important, pantera, Phil Anselmo, reunion-or-not, rock, village, vinnie-paul, voice, wylde, zakk wylde No Comments »Anthrax’s Frank Bello on Metal Masters 4, Bonding With Phil Anselmo + More
September 28th, 2012 Metalkult Liz Ramanand, Loudwire Bassist Frank Bello has had a busy year. On top of touring with Anthrax throughout the year and playing Richard Hell in the film ‘Greetings From Tim Buckley’, he has also been a vital part of the all-star Metal Masters clinics. Loudwire spoke to Bello about the clinic’s latest installment, Metal Masters 4 , which took place in his hometown of New York City, his bond with Pantera / Down singer Phil Anselmo and his enthusiasm for a possible Metal Masters 5. You guys killed at Metal Masters 4 in New York City. What did that experience of being in your hometown mean to you? Well, No. 1, it was easy – I can get a taxi home, I was feeling the Jager the night before. [Laughs] It was really rough and I like being in my bed when I feel like that – it’s just way easier I can just get there. The funny thing about it was I wasn’t at home for that long because rehearsal was that night and everybody had drinks that night, we got pie-eyed a little bit and I had to be at soundcheck and there’s so much pressure for the [fourth edition]. This thing took a life of its own now, I had to be down there at [noon], so I was literally home for six, seven hours. But It was so nice, they give you that home vibe, it’s New York, let’s face it that was a great crowd. It was an insane crowd and I thought it was one of the better ones because it had its edge to it that night. We all came off stage that night and we knew it was amazing because the vibe from the crowd was amazing. The crowd was also hopped up on free tubes of Jager. [Laughs] It never hurts though. That whole last Mayhem tour that Anthrax dig, we had a shot called a 9:28 shot. At 9:28 right after Slayer played we would all congregate in Slayer’s dressing room and the Jager party pretty much started from that time on pretty much through the wee hours – I’m telling you every night. So after that last Mayhem tour, I was drained I needed to come home and just chill for while. How would you describe your friendship with Phil Anselmo? Very close, brothers in arms. It’s great communication, we know each other so well. I think I’m one of the people he actually trusts — and the other guys on the stage, you can tell Phil trusts us. It’s a really nice tight bond, he wouldn’t just jam with anybody, let’s put it that way. [Laughs] Is it safe to say that Phil Anselmo might have a little bit of a crush on you? [Laughs] You know, we have so much fun together. The whole “crazy legs” thing – that’s the first thing he’s ever said to me – with all the crazy, stupid things I do onstage with Anthrax ‘cause I’m always moving, that’s why he brought up the name “crazy legs.” His girlfriend says the same thing and they emailed me right after, “Can’t wait to do it again,” and that’s so cool to hear Any plans for a Metal Masters 5? As soon as that was done we all said to Mark Menghi, the guy who runs all the stuff: “Whenever, let us know, it was a lot of fun.” [Laughs] We’ll take it all up again and see what happens. It probably won’t be in New York but you know what’s crazy, there are a lot of people asking for this thing now, which is great. [button href=”http://loudwire.com/anthrax-bassist-frank-bello-reflects-on-one-year-anniversary-of-worship-music/” title=”Frank Bello Talks One Year Anniversary of ‘Worship Music'” align=”center”]
Posted in News Tags: a-little-bit, a-really-nice, a-vital-part, anthrax, exclusive, film, frank-bello, jager, killed-at-metal, Music, Phil Anselmo, thing No Comments »
