Dutch Festival FortaRock Cancels Down’s Set Following Phil Anselmo’s White Power Salute

Dutch Festival FortaRock Cancels Down’s Set Following Phil Anselmo’s White Power Salute

The former Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo has faced rumors of racism for his entire career. And last month, that racism talk became something other than rumor. Onstage at Dimebash, an all-star tribute to his late Pantera bandmate Dimebag Darrell, a visibly drunk Anselmo threw a Nazi salute and yelled, “White Power!” He first claimed that it had been an inside joke, something to do with the band members drinking white wine backstage, and then he apologized. But that apology might not be enough; he’s starting to face career repercussions.

Anselmo leads Down, the New Orleans sludge metal supergroup, and the band was slated to perform at the Dutch metal festival FortaRock in June. But as Blabbermouth reports, festival organizers have canceled Down’s appearance: “After the recent outbursts by singer Phil Anselmo during the Dimebash event in the U.S., his band DOWN is no longer welcome at FortaRock… There has been close consultation between all parties recent days, since we wanted to make a well informed decision. On that basis, the decision is made to cancel the act. We want to make clear that there is no room for racism or fascism on FortaRock.”

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