| Phil Anselmo |
Phil Anselmo performing live with Down in 2008 |
| Background information |
| Birth name |
Philip Hansen Anselmo |
| Also known as |
Anton Crowley |
| Born |
(1968-06-30) June 30, 1968 (age 43) |
| Origin |
New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Genres |
Heavy metal, groove metal, thrash metal, death metal, black metal, sludge metal, hardcore punk, stoner rock, southern metal |
| Occupations |
Musician, songwriter, producer |
| Instruments |
Vocals, guitar, bass guitar, drums |
| Years active |
1983–present |
| Labels |
Housecore |
| Associated acts |
Pantera, Down, Arson Anthem, Superjoint Ritual, Necrophagia |
| Website |
www.philanselmo.com |
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo (born June 30, 1968) is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records and has been a part of many side-projects.
Anselmo started life in New Orleans and attended Grace King High School located in the suburb of Metairie.[1] His father owned and operated a restaurant in Metairie called Anselmo's, which closed in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Anselmo has said in various interviews that he was very quiet and secluded as a child. He spent some time working on fishing boats as a young man. During a 2002 Ozzfest interview with the radio show Opie and Anthony, Anselmo shared a story that, at the age of 15, he started a fire in his home to scare his sister but accidentally burned the house down in the process.[2] While a teenager, Anselmo joined the band Samhain (not to be confused with Glenn Danzig's band Samhain). From the early to mid '80s, Anselmo was a member of the band Razor White. While they did have some original material, they played mainly Judas Priest covers.
Anselmo performing with Superjoint Ritual at
Ozzfest in 2004
Pantera was an unsigned glam metal band, with three self-released albums to their name. In 1986, it was decided by the band to replace singer Terrence Lee, who was primarily a glam metal singer, because they were heading in a different direction musically. Seeking a new frontman to continue on this heavier path, the band was led to 19-year-old Anselmo. In 1987, after several meetings, Anselmo was added to the Pantera lineup. The band was so impressed with Anselmo that they re-recorded some of Terrence Lee's vocals for their latest release. Anselmo relocated to Texas to record Power Metal, which was released in 1988 on the band's own record label, Metal Magic Records. Following the release of Power Metal, the band dropped its glam image and adopted a more casual look. They were signed to a record label by a scout who was stranded due to a hurricane. The band saw the scout at the venue and was disheartened when he left mid-set, but it turned out that the scout had left to phone the record label and to tell them to sign Pantera as soon as possible. Pantera recorded the album Cowboys from Hell in 1990, and a long tour began. The band documented portions of this tour on their first home video, Cowboys from Hell: The Videos, released in 1991.
In 1992, Pantera recorded Vulgar Display of Power. That same year, Pantera released a promo titled Hostile Mixes that contained four songs, three of which were remixes. The first two remixes were done by Justin K. Broadrick of Godflesh and the last by J. G. Thirlwell of Foetus. In 1994, Pantera released Far Beyond Driven, which debuted at #1 in the U.S. In late June, Anselmo was charged with assault following an altercation with a security guard when fans were prevented from getting on stage. Anselmo was released on $5,000 bail the next day.[3][4] The trial was delayed three times.[5] In May 1995, he apologized in court, pleaded guilty to attempted assault, and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service.[6][7]
In 1996, Pantera released their fourth studio album with Anselmo, titled The Great Southern Trendkill. Anselmo recorded the vocal tracks for this album in New Orleans while the other members recorded in Texas. In 1997, Pantera released their first and only official live album titled Official Live: 101 Proof. This album contained two new tracks--"I Can't Hide" and "Where You Come From." In 2000, Pantera released their final studio album, titled Reinventing the Steel. In 2003, Pantera released a best-of album, The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits! (titled Reinventing Hell: The Best of Pantera in Europe). The album featured songs from five studio albums with Anselmo, and also included three cover tracks, "Planet Caravan" and "Hole in the Sky," written by Black Sabbath; and "Cat Scratch Fever," written by Ted Nugent. A bonus DVD was also made, containing all the band's music videos. Later that year, Pantera disbanded over communication problems and accusations that Anselmo had abandoned the band.
Following the breakup, Anselmo devoted much of his time to a longtime side project, Superjoint Ritual. Having heard this, the Abbott brothers of Pantera (guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul) formed Damageplan with former Halford guitarist Pat Lachman on vocals and Bob Zilla on bass. Some fans blame Anselmo for Pantera's breakup, because of statements in the heavy metal press. Anselmo has accused journalists of twisting the facts, publishing what they think sells best. Pantera bassist Rex Brown, widely known as being the one neutral voice in the matter, has blamed both sides for the split.
After Vinnie Paul slammed Superjoint Ritual, saying Anselmo could not even keep his eyes open, Anselmo replied, "I just hear a big and sad yellowbelly crybaby fuckin' knowing that his meal ticket is in a different fuckin' band ... You would have to know those guys to really understand where I was coming from. They're scared of their own fuckin' shadows. And, all that said, I wish them the best of fuckin' luck. I still love 'em."[8] Anselmo had engaged in a war of words with Dimebag since the fall of Pantera, culminating in the statement "Dimebag deserves to be beaten severely" in the December 2004 edition of the UK's Metal Hammer magazine. Initially, he denied making the statement, but later changed his story in a VH1 Behind the Music special on Pantera, claiming that the comment had been lighthearted and made off the record. However, Vinnie Paul told the press that he had heard the audio files of the interview and that Anselmo had not been misquoted.[9]
In December 2004, Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed while performing with Damageplan. At the request of Dimebag's family, Anselmo did not attend his funeral.
In a lengthy and emotional video posted on the website community YouTube, Anselmo describes his regret over his previous behavior,[10] and has written and recorded music dealing with the loss of Dimebag on the new Down record, Down III: Over the Under. The band has dedicated their song "Lifer" to Dimebag.
Main article:
Down (band)Down has been Anselmo's main recording and touring band since 2006.
Down is an American heavy metal band formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band is a supergroup, its various lineups consisting of members and former members of Pantera, Corrosion of Conformity, Crowbar and Eyehategod.
Since its inception, Down has released three studio albums and has gone on hiatus twice to focus on the members' respective bands.
Superjoint Ritual was a New Orleans metal band formed by Anselmo, Joe Fazzio, and Jimmy Bower in the early 1990s, later to be joined by Hank Williams III, and Kevin Bond. Their style can be considered a mix of groove metal and hardcore punk. Bands like Venom, Slayer, Celtic Frost, Voivod, and Darkthrone have also been noted as influences. The name Superjoint Ritual comes from a lyric in the Darkthrone song, "The Pagan Winter". According to Bower, Anselmo wrote 70-80% of the group's music. During their time together they released two full length albums on Sanctuary Records, Use Once and Destroy in 2002 and A Lethal Dose of American Hatred in 2003.
Main article:
Arson AnthemArson Anthem is a Southern hardcore punk project that originated when Eyehategod singer Mike Williams moved into Anselmo's spare apartment after losing all his possessions in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The two spent countless hours listening to Anselmo’s collection of early hardcore bands. They began jamming with Hank III and Collin Yeo, who were united by their desire to have a hardcore/crust punk band of their own.[11] The Arson Anthem lineup features Mike Williams on vocals, Phil Anselmo on guitar, Hank III on drums, and Collin Yeo on bass.
Anselmo performing with Down in 2006
Christ Inversion was formed in 1994. The group was a short-lived black metal project formed by Anselmo where he played guitar under the name "Anton Crowley". Most of their lyrics were based on horror films and Satanism. The band recorded two demos in 1994 and 1995 respectively and then disbanded without ever recording a full-length album. Many years later, songs from the first demo were put on an 8-track compilation and released through Anselmo's own Housecore Records on October 28, 2008.
The band released one EP called Southern Isolation. It originally contained four songs, but was later re-released with a fifth bonus track. The band consisted of Stephanie Opal Weinstein on vocals and guitars, Anselmo on vocals, backing vocals and guitars, "Big" Ross Karpelman (of Clearlight) on keyboards, and Sid Montz (of Crowbar) on drums.
One rare track called "Faded" has been credited to Southern Isolation on the Manson Family Soundtrack, which is due to be released on Anselmo's Housecore label.
Viking Crown was a short-lived and essentially solo side project started by Anselmo in the mid-90s. The members of the band are Anselmo (under the pseudonym Anton Crowley) on guitars, bass and drums; Killjoy on vocals; and Opal Enthroned (Stephanie Opal Weinstein) on keyboards. On their first album Unorthodox Steps of Ritual, Anselmo played every instrument and laid down his own vocals. The band never performed live.
Eibon was a very short-lived supergroup which Anselmo participated in from 1998 to 2000. The group featured Killjoy, Fenriz, Satyr, and Maniac. The project has been put on indefinite hiatus and to date has only released a single track, Mirror Soul Jesus, which appeared on the 'Moonfog 2000: A Different Perspective' compilation in 2000. The band is on Satyr's record label 'Moonfog Productions'.
In 1993 Anselmo produced Crowbar's self titled album and recorded backing vocals on some of the tracks.
In 1996 Anselmo recorded guitars on two songs ("Van Full of Retards" and a cover of Manowar's "Gloves of Metal") and contributed vocals/backing vocals on 18 songs for Anal Cunt's 40 More Reasons to Hate Us album.
In 1996 Anselmo recorded backing vocals for tracks on Crowbar's Broken Glass album.
Also in 1996, Anselmo provided vocals on Soilent Green's album Sewn Mouth Secrets. Although not credited, he is given thanks in the liner notes.
In 1998 Anthrax released the album Volume 8: The Threat Is Real. Anselmo provided backing vocals on track 8 ("Killing Box"). Also, his Pantera bandmate Dimebag Darrell played guitar solos on tracks 3 ("Inside Out") and 7 ("Born Again Idiot").
In 1998 Anselmo sang a duet ("By the River") on Vision of Disorder's Imprint album.
In 2000 Tony Iommi released a collaborative album with various well known vocalists. Initially, Anselmo was going to co-create an entire album with Iommi, but due to tour schedules it never happened. Anselmo managed, however, to lay down some tracks for Iommi's album. Iommi and Anselmo wrote and recorded three tracks together, "Time Is Mine", "The Bastard", and a third unknown track. Iommi picked "Time Is Mine" for the album. "The Bastard" was never officially released, but can be found online.[12] The third unknown track is now highly sought after by fans of both artists.[13]
In 2001 Anselmo provided vocals for "HFFK" on Biohazard's Uncivilization album.
On March 6, 2006, Anselmo made an appearance along with Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan and the surviving members of Alice in Chains at a VH1's Decades Rock Live concert, in honor of fellow Seattle musicians such as Alice in Chains' Layne Staley and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart
In 2008 Anselmo recorded vocals for the Mahakali album by Jarboe. The track is sparse musically, features a raw vocal delivery by Anselmo, and a short spoken-word segment.
In the mid-90s, Anselmo began to record for several side projects under the pseudonym Anton Crowley, most notably with Viking Crown. The name Anton Crowley is taken from Aleister Crowley (British occultist) and Anton LaVey (Founder and High Priest of the Church of Satan).
In 1997, Necrophagia frontman Killjoy reformed his band with Phil Anselmo on guitars. Using the Anton Crowley name, Anselmo appeared on the 1998 Holocausto de la Morte album, the 1999 Black Blood Vomitorium EP, and finally the 2001 Cannibal Holocaust EP, which featured Opal Enthroned (then Anselmo's wife) on keyboards.
Anselmo started his own record label called Housecore Records, to release material by his many side projects and from other bands he supported.[14] For a time Housecore was merged with Baphomet Records, owned by Philip's friend and ex-bandmate Killjoy of Necrophagia, to form Baphomet/Housecore Records. They have since split.[15]
Main article:
House of ShockAnselmo, together with Steve Joseph, Ross Karpelman and Jay Gracianette, started the House of Shock, a Halloween-themed attraction. Initially, it began in Jay Gracianette's backyard, but was later moved to a large warehouse outside New Orleans that has been converted into an interactive haunted house with 300+ volunteer workers. The attraction has raised money for the Childrens Hospital of New Orleans, the Parish Police Bullet Proof Vest Fund, and the Greater New Orleans Riding Rehabilitation Center.[16] Anselmo played the role of a part-time actor when his schedule permitted.[17] Anselmo is no longer involved with the attraction.[1]
Anselmo was featured in the John Kaplan photo essay, 21, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography. The photographer documented the lifestyles of 21-year-old Americans. Two pictures of Anselmo were included, one with a snake draped over his shoulders and the second as his head is being shaved to reveal a tattoo.
[edit] The Manson Family movie
Anselmo can be heard in the Jim Van Bebber movie The Manson Family as the voice of Satan. The soundtrack for this movie also contains music from several of Anselmo's bands.
Since the mid-90s Anselmo has occasionally been accused of being racist, an accusation that he has denied on numerous occasions.
During a Pantera concert in 1995 at the Montreal Verdun Auditorium, Anselmo gave a speech during a break in the performance.[18] During this speech, Anselmo stated that Pantera was not a racist band, but security personnel and some people who attended the performance found parts of what Anselmo said to be racist. Following this, Anselmo released an open letter apologizing for any offense that he may have caused during this speech.[19]
During an interview in August 2003, Anselmo stated in regards to the racist accusations, "I’m anything fucking but, I know there’s shitty people and beautiful people on both sides of the spectrum – black and white. And I know for an absolute fucking fact there’s good Middle Eastern people who live here. And I know there’s good Oriental people. But if I’m writing a song and it has to touch on the negatives of certain issues, I’m not gonna beat around the fucking bush and fence-ride – especially with Superjoint. Before, with Pantera, I had to be slightly careful. Now I don’t. And I can see from the enthusiasm in the audiences that we’re on our way to something extremely relevant – something on top of anywhere anybody thinks we might go."[20]
On October 31, 2001, Anselmo married his longtime girlfriend Stephanie Opal Weinstein. That same year they created an acoustic band called Southern Isolation. Anselmo and Weinstein divorced in 2004.
Anselmo is currently in a relationship with Kate Richardson, who also helps with the running of his record label, Housecore Records.[1] Anselmo currently resides in a rural property in Louisiana.[1] He keeps a number of animals, including dogs, cats and a variety of birds.[1] Anselmo had a pet rottweiler named Dracula that died in 2009.[21]
Anselmo owns an extensive collection of several thousand horror films and possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of horror films and horror culture.[22] Anselmo has an interest in the sport of boxing.[23] He owns hundreds of fight DVDs and used to take a boxing trainer on tour with him.[23] He has written articles as a columnist for the Boxing Insider website.[24] Anselmo is a New Orleans Saints fan.[25] Anselmo has interviewed Saints player Jeremy Shockey and has helped to coach a youth team at the request of Saints team ambassador Michael Lewis during a visit to the teams practice facility.[1]
On July 13, 1996, at the 'Coca-Cola Starplex' in Dallas Texas, Anselmo went into cardiac arrest due to a heroin overdose after a show. Paramedics revived Anselmo and he issued a press release four days later saying, "I, Philip H. Anselmo...injected a lethal dose of heroin into my arm, and died for four to five minutes".[26]
According to Anselmo, he had been suffering constant pain due to a back injury dating back to the mid-1990s. To ease the pain, he drank heavily, abused painkillers and muscle relaxants, and used heroin.[1] The medication affected his onstage performances and caused slurred speech.[1]
Since 2005, Anselmo has stopped using hard drugs, initially so that he could be cleared for surgery on his back.[1]
On November 21, 2005, Anselmo underwent surgery to repair severe damage to his back caused by degenerative disc disease.[1] The surgery was successful, and after several months of recuperation and rehabilitation Anselmo returned to recording and touring.[1] Anselmo has stated that he still occasionally experiences pain due to the back injury but much less than prior to the surgery.
In early 2009, Anselmo underwent knee surgery. He made the following statement in regards to the injury:
"It was a semi-torn ACL [anterior cruciate ligament, one of the four major ligaments of the knee] and a semi-torn meniscus [a common knee injury]." Anselmo also stated: "With plans to do some jamming during the healing process, trust me, Down will return."[27] Anselmo originally acquired the injury at a gig prior to the Monsters of Rock festival in England in 1994, after jumping from a speaker cabinet.[28]
Anselmo was mainly influenced by Judas Priest,[29] Slayer,[30] Hellhammer[29] and Venom.[29] He pays tribute to two of his favorite bands in the lyrics of the Pantera song "Goddamn Electric", singing "your trust is in whiskey and weed and Black Sabbath"; in the second verse, the lyric is tweaked to "whiskey and weed and Slayer". Anselmo states that his main vocal influence is Iron Maiden singer, Bruce Dickinson.[31]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Spera, Keith (January 25, 2011). "Phil Anselmo Battled Back from Drugs and Surgery to Rock as Hard as Ever". NOLA.com. http://www.nola.com/music/index.ssf/2011/01/phil_anselmo.html. Retrieved 2011-02-05.
- ^ "Phil interview at ozzfest 2002 with Opie and Anthony". http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NRJg7KUb2II. Retrieved 2008-06-18.
- ^ "DARIEN LAKE CONCERT FRAYS NERVES AGAIN BAND'S SINGER CHARGED WITH ASSAULT". Buffalo News. June 29, 1994. http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/BN/lib00142,0EAF97EAAE9DA721.html. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ^ "N.O. native, Pantera singer, arrested in guard's assault". The Advocate. October 26, 1994. http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/AD/lib00241,0EB47798D28863CB.html. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ^ "ROCK SINGER ASSAULT CASE ADJOURNED FOR THIRD TIME". Buffalo News. October 26, 1994. http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/BN/lib00142,0EAF9825A7209AA9.html. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ^ "The Scuttlebutt". Salt Lake Tribune. May 12, 1995. http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/SLTB/lib00826,1010DE6F85D7B491.html. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ^ "PANTERA SINGER CHANGES HIS TUNE". Grand Forks Herald. April 21, 1995. http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/GF/lib00128,0EB6EA90E5CEB00C.html. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ^ "Ex-PANTERA Singer PHILIP ANSELMO: VINNIE PAUL Is A 'Crybaby'". Revolver. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=17500. Retrieved 2009-06-15.
- ^ "VINNIE PAUL: 'If PHILIP ANSELMO Really Wants To Place Any Blame, He Needs To Look In A Mirror'". BlabberMouth. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=51603.
- ^ “” (2007-04-04). "phil anselmo giving statement about the murder of dimebag". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zA9roanWPSA. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ "Arson Anthem Profile Page: Biography, Interview and Album Reviews". Musicemissions.com. http://www.musicemissions.com/artists/Arson+Anthem. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ “”. "Tony Iommi - The Bastard (Featuring Philip Anselmo)". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iemzAZyjZLk. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ "Tony Iommi and Philip collaberate". http://cosmik.com/aa-june01/cosmik_conversations_6.html. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
- ^ "Philip's record label 'Housecore Records'". Archived from the original on 2008-03-29. http://web.archive.org/web/20080329032043/http://www.thehousecorerecords.com/news.aspx. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
- ^ "Housecore and Baphomet records end partnership". http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/Blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=2021. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
- ^ Graff, Gary. "Pantera's Haunted House". ABC News. http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/story?id=114417&page=1#.T6m46N3X5vk. Retrieved 9 May 2012.
- ^ "Creation of The House Of Shock". http://www.houseofshock.com/about.html. Retrieved 2008-04-09.
- ^ "Broadcast Yourself". YouTube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1Jb-lLa960. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ "Pantera in Montreal". Pages.infinit.net. 1995-03-09. http://pages.infinit.net/dimebag/review1.htm. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ "AMDB: Superjoint Ritual". AustinChronicle.com. http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/AMDB/Profile?oid=oid:155998. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ "By Demons Be Driven: Revolver interview w/Phil Anselmo from Pantera". Ubuntu Forums. http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=110870. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ Florino, Rick (March 10, 2010). "Philip Anselmo Shares Some Horror Favorites; To Begin Monthly Bloody Disgusting Column Soon!". Bloody Disgusting. http://www.bloody-disgusting.com/news/music/456. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ a b Malinowski, Scoop (May 14, 2008). "Celebrity Boxing Fan: Musician Philip Anselmo". Boxing Insider. http://www.boxinginsider.com/columns/celebrity-boxing-fan-musician-philip-anselmo/. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ Anselmo, Philip (March 9, 2010). "Philip H. Anselmo Talks Boxing". Boxing Insider. http://www.boxinginsider.com/columns/philip-h-anselmo-talks-boxing/. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ^ "Philip visits New Orleans Saints". PhilAnselmo.com. June 29, 2010. http://www.philanselmo.com/news/2010/0628.htm. Retrieved 2010-06-30.
- ^ Christensen, Thor (April 26, 1997). "Overdose put Pantera's Anselmo on Straight Path". Calhoun Times. p. 39. http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=375&dat=19970426&id=tikJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=bjoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2220,3277295. Retrieved 2010-03-16.
- ^ "Down frontman out of hospital". kerrang.com. 2009-04-10. http://www2.kerrang.com/2009/04/down_frontman_out_of_hospital.html. Retrieved 2010-08-27.
- ^ Noisy Mothers, ITV, Summer 1994
- ^ a b c "Phil interview at vampirefreaks.com". http://vampirefreaks.com/content/comment.php?entry=455&t=Interview+with+Phil+Anselmo+%28Pantera+and+Down. Retrieved 2010-04-11.
- ^ Ferris, D. X. (2008). Reign in Blood. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 12. ISBN 0-8264-2909-2.
- ^ "DOWN's PHILIP ANSELMO On BRUCE DICKINSON's Radio Show; Audio Available". Roadrunnerrecords.com. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/BLABBERMOUTH.NET/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=96712. Retrieved 2011-10-02.
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Anselmo, Phil |
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1967-06-30 |
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