Phil Anselmo’s upcoming performances in New Zealand have been cancelled, following outrage over “white power” remarks the singer made in 2016.
Later this week, Phil Anselmo & The Illegals are set to kick off their 2019 tour of Oceania. Starting in Canberra this Thursday, the band have a number of stops around the country planned, with a brief trek over to New Zealand pencilled in for next week.
However, it seems as though their visit to New Zealand has been unceremoniously cancelled, with venues citing the former Pantera frontman’s previous remarks about white supremacy as the reason.
Back in 2016, Phil Anselmo was one of the guests who performed at the Dimebash festival in California. While wrapping up a performance of Pantera’s ‘Walk’, audiences were left stunned when Anselmo gave a nazi salute, and yelled phrases such as “sieg heil” and “white power”.
While Anselmo later issued an apology, he has frequently been targeted with various accusations of white supremacy and support far-right ideologies.
Now, as Stuff notes, Phil Anselmo’s upcoming tour of New Zealand appears to have been canned, with venues cancelling his shows in the wake of last week’s terror attack in Christchurch, which was committed by a perpetrator with far-right leanings.
Phil Anselmo & The Illegals were set to hit up Christchurch’s Club Tavern on March 26th, before visiting Galatos in Auckland the next evening. However, posts on the Facebook pages for both venues indicate that these shows are no longer happening.
In a since-deleted message, Club Tavern explained that the show had been nixed, noting; “We are not interested in the whys so please don’t ask. We do not and will not support white supremacy or racism!!!”
Likewise, Galatos also explained they would not be hosting the show, writing that; “information has come to hand which has made us uncomfortable about proceeding with this show.”
Tour promoter Ben Mulchin of Valhalla Touring also released a statement addressing the claims of white supremacism, explaining that they “would never book anyone with ‘white power’ or ‘white power politics’, or any other silly political agendas. No way.”
“We need to make that very very clear — as music is our livelihood. Phil Anselmo had an indiscretion a few years back while under the influence of substances that is widely documented; by making a very hurtful remark and idiotic gesture.”
“I honestly don’t think Phil is racist but regardless he has committed a pretty terrible act in 2016.”
At this stage, it appears as though Phil Anselmo & The Illegals’ tour of Australia is still scheduled to take place as planned.
This news also comes just days after Slayer’s final-ever concert in New Zealand was cancelled, having been set to take place barely a kilometre from where Friday’s terror attack occurred.
