Vulgar Display of Power: Phil Anselmo's Greed

If you've been following social media in the last couple of weeks, there's been countless articles and reaction videos about the topic at hand: Phil Anselmo's announcement of a Pantera "reunion."

Let me set the record straight first to start this conversation. I grew up as a kid listening to Pantera. My dad was a huge Pantera fan and always had Cowboys from Hell and Vulgar Display of Power blasting. I also am a massive fan of Vinnie Paul's work with his late band, Hellyeah. I was fortunate enough to have seen Vinnie perform with Hellyeah four times and met him twice before his tragic passing in 2018. Below is a picture of me with Vinnie Paul at a Hellyeah show in Uncasville, CT.

The announcement of this "reunion" comes at the heels of tumultuous history among the band members and the legacy behind the band. I know at first glance, many folks within the metal community would be totally charged up at the idea of hearing and "seeing" Pantera live. They disbanded in 2003.

The band's remaining members Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown announced that Zakk Wylde will be filling Dimebag Daryll's place and Charlie Benante is taking Vinnie Paul's place. Now I have no axe to grind with Zakk nor Charlie. They are both wildly talented musicians in their own right. My next comments have zero to do with them or the selection of them.

I firmly believe Pantera died when the Abbott brothers died. You cannot have Pantera without them. They are the core of the band. This spectulation about a 2023 tour, and needing an agent, etc etc is totally inappropriate. This 100% screams to me, Phil needs money.

Let's address the white elephant in the room. Phil Anselmo's disgusting history of racist, antisemetic bullshit. The marriage of that with a legacy of substance and alcohol addiction doesn't justify it. Anselmo has been repeatedly caught on stage with these outbursts. Most recently in 2016 at DimeBash, he ended a set with a Nazi salute and screaming "White Power" to the crowd. He made a weak apology and stated the "White Power" was a joke for white wine. Do we really believe this? I know I don't. Especially in another concert he went off about being disgusted with Black affirmative action and "fuck all that black power shit".

Anselmo was shaped banned from Fortarock Festival in 2016 after the Dimebash incident and a petition quickly followed to have him removed from Download Festival. He's been marginally active in recent years, but let's be real. Resurrecting Pantera from the grave after nearly 20 years being inactive, it would be explosive and he knows it. The music label knows it. But why should we as a community fund a racist?

There's been a lot of PR that this is to "honor" the Abbot brothers and give folks the opportunity to hear Pantera live now. This is bullshit. Phil Anselmo has been performing Pantera hits currently with his band, Phil Anselmo and the illegals. They call the sets A Vulgar Display of Pantera. So what's the need for a "reunion" tour??

In my opinion, Phil Anselmo is a garbage person. He's using everything in his arsenal to stay relevant and keep cash coming. Although I'm not a fan of cancel culture; I think it's time the metal community stopped welcoming this behavior and this culture. I really believe this has zero to do honor, and everything to do with greed.

What do you think?