Phil Anselmo Apologises For “White Power” Comment After Backlash From Metal Musos

Former Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo has apologised for his actions at the Dimebash 2016 charity concert after copping a wave of backlash for making a Nazi-style salute and screaming the words “white power” at the audience.

In a brief apology video (below), Anselmo says he “deserved completely” all the criticism which has come his way since the incident at Dimebash, which is held in the memory of late Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell.

“Heavy emotions were flowing, jokes were made backstage that transpired upon the stage, and it was ugly, it was uncalled for, and anyone who knows me and my true nature knows that I don’t believe in any of that,” Anselmo says.

“I don’t want to be part of any group. I’m an individual and I am a thousand per cent apologetic to anyone who took offence to what I said, because you should have taken offence to what I said. And I am so sorry.”

In closing, Anselmo says he is sorry and asks for “another chance” from anyone who was offended by his actions, despite previously saying there would be “no apologies” following the incident.

A number of other metal musicians hit out at Anselmo after footage of his “white power” salute made its way online. Machine Head guitarist Rob Flynn, for example, called out Anselmo and his supporters in an 11-minute video on YouTube, which you can catch below.

What’s more, Californian outfit All Shall Perish posted a statement to Facebook, saying:

“We consider Pantera to be the single greatest metal band of all time, but we should never be afraid to call out our heroes.

“Seeing Phil’s actions and his cowardly justification is not only disgusting and inexcusable but antithetical to the punk, metal, underground ethos to which we subscribe. No gods, No masters, and certainly no master race.”

Catch Anselmo’s video apology alongside Flynn’s YouTube video and All Shall Perish’s full statement, below.

This year’s Dimebash event also saw Anselmo team up with Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl to lead a supergroup through a performance of Motörhead’s Ace Of Spades in tribute to the late Lemmy Kilmister.

Watch: Phil Anselmo Apology

Watch: Machine Head’s Rob Flynn – Racism In Metal