The former frontman of renowned metal pioneers Pantera and veteran industry identity Phil Anselmo is unapologetic about his role at the centre of controversy following his appearance at last weekend's Dimebash charity event, at which he was filmed performing a Nazi-style salute and apparently shouting "White power!" at the crowd.
As the ABC reports, the incident — which was filmed by an audience member and has since blown up on YouTube — came towards the end of the annual charity gig, held in honour of slain Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott since his on-stage shooting at the hands of a fan in 2004.
The fan who posted the video said the gesture "ruined" Dimebash for them, explaining that they felt "people deserve to see this".
"This is not what Pantera is about!!!" the fan, using the username Chris R, wrote in their accompanying caption. "Absolutely uncalled for … Phil Anselmo you are a racist prick!!!"
However, Anselmo has taken to the comments section underneath the video to defend himself, claiming that the whole thing is a misinterpreted "inside joke" because white wine was being consumed on the evening. Sure, that's not a reach.
"OK folks, I'll own this one, but dammit, I was joking, and the 'inside joke of the night' was because we were drinking fucking white wine, hahaha," Anselmo wrote under the account for Housecore Records, the record label he runs with his partner, Kate Richardson.
"Of all fucking things. Some of y'all need to thicken up your skin. There's plenty of fuckers to pick on with a more realistic agenda.
"I fucking love everyone, I fucking loathe everyone, and that's that. No apologies from me."
However, several within the international heavy-music community have expressed not only disapproval but a total lack of surprise at the incident, including Aussie musician Michael Crafter, who made reference to Anselmo's long and storied history of controversy on Twitter.
in 2016 people are still shocked with phil anselmo being a racist? seriously do people not recall his history doing similar stuff on stage
— Michael Crafter (@Crafterxxx) January 28, 2016
See further commentary below.
Not surprising Phil Anselmo is a Nazi. It is surprising he drinks white wine, however. #howsthefish #chardonnayskins
— michael thorn (@borninamess) January 29, 2016
Just to clarify, I’ve never liked Phil Anselmo, which is why I think it’s glorious that he’s outed himself as a neo n@zi piece of shit.
— Anthony Mikos (@drinkbourbon) January 29, 2016
Phil Anselmo is an idiot, not a "white supremacist"
— THICK RECORDS (@thickrecords) January 29, 2016
I like how people are trying to defend Phil anselmo by saying "he only said white power god stop taking offence" as tho it's a normal saying
— Steven Alyn Gibbs (@StevenAlynGibbs) January 29, 2016
You have to literally have never known who Phil Anselmo is to be surprised about what he did.
— Brendan (@brendanzig_) January 28, 2016
