Pantera Gigs Cancelled In Response To Phil Anselmo’s “White Energy” Incident

The 2023 Pantera reunion is within the midst of turmoil, with plenty of reveals cancelled in response to a 2016 incident involving frontman Phil Anselmo. The incident in query occurred at a charity live performance in Los Angeles by which Anselmo was filmed making a Nazi-style salute whereas shouting “white energy”.

Preliminary condemnation of the incident was swift, with Anselmo’s band Down being removed from a Dutch festival on the time. Anselmo himself apologised for the incident, which occurred at a live performance in reminiscence of late Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, claiming he “deserved utterly” the criticism that had come his manner, explaining it arose from a joke “made backstage that transpired upon the stage”.

Pantera – ‘Cowboys From Hell’

As Consequence Of Sound stories, Pantera’s upcoming reunion tour was scheduled to go to each Germany and Austria in Could and June. Nevertheless, organisers of the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park festivals have revealed now that the band have been faraway from the festivals, with the Foo Fighters as a substitute taking their place.

“Pantera is not going to be acting at Rock am Ring and Rock im Park 2023, as introduced,” organisers said in a statement. “In the previous few weeks, we now have had many intensive conversations with artists, our companions and also you, the pageant followers, we now have continued to take care of the criticism collectively and determined to take away the band from this system.”

Quickly after the band’s Rock am Ring and Rock im Park appearances have been cancelled, organisers of the group’s thirty first Could efficiency in Vienna, Austria was additionally cancelled. A statement made by organisers of the occasion gave no purpose for the cancellation, although Blabbermouth stories that followers commenting on the promoter’s web page have assumed it’s associated to Anselmo’s 2016 incident.

Pantera initially broke up in 2003, with guitarist Dimebag Darrell being killed in 2004, and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul, passing away in 2018. In 2022, it was introduced that Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown might be joined by guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante for a collection of reunion tour dates.