Rock am Ring and Rock im Park
Accusations of racism: Greens call for metal band Pantera to be excluded from festivals
Pantera singer Phil Anselmo
© Fotoarena / Imago Images
Pantera is one of the headliners at sister festivals Rock am Ring and Rock im Park this summer. Now the Greens in Nuremberg City Hall are demanding that the band be excluded. The reason is racism allegations against singer Phil Anselmo.
At the beginning of June, hundreds of thousands of rock fans made the pilgrimage to the Nürburgring and the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds in Nuremberg. The sister festivals Rock am Ring and Rock im Park traditionally ring in the festival season in Germany.
But months before the first guitar is tuned and the first drum kit is set up, there is initial criticism of the operator of Germany’s largest music festival. The reason for this is one of the headliners. The Greens in Nuremberg City Hall are demanding that the metal band Pantera be excluded from the festival.
Because of the Hitler salute in 2016: Greens demand the exclusion of Pantera from Rock am Ring and Rock im Park
The band, which broke up 20 years ago, was actually supposed to celebrate their big reunion in Germany at the Nürburgring and in Nuremberg. But now criticism of singer Phil Anselmo is loud again.
Throughout his career, the 54-year-old has been in the headlines for escapades. However, never as much as in 2016. At the so-called “Dimebash”, which the band held for their deceased guitarist Dimebag Darrell even when they were not active, Anselmo clearly gave the Hitler salute and shouted “White Power” into the crowd.
A video of the performance caused a stir and dismay in the metal industry at the time. Several fellow musicians, including Machine Head guitarist Robb Flynn, said Pantera and Anselmo in particular were unacceptable for the metal scene.
Anselmo himself commented on his gesture and exclamation with arrogance rather than understanding. He explained the whole thing was just a “joke” for which he didn’t want to apologize.
As reported by Bayrischer Rundfunk, Réka Lörincz, spokeswoman against racism and right-wing extremism for the Greens in Nuremberg, said: “The former Nazi party rally grounds are being deliberately misused for the staging and reproduction of racist and inhuman ideology.” The city council fraction of the Greens is therefore asking the organizer, Argo Konzerte GmbH, to reconsider the invitation to Pantera and to uninvite the metal band
Pantera remains headliner – organizer wants to “give the band a chance”
On Tuesday afternoon, the organizer finally commented on the Rock am Ring and Rock im Park social media channels. It was emphasized that the festivals stand for “diversity, tolerance, equality and against any form of discrimination.”
A conversation with Pantera and the management was sought in advance. “In several conversations we have been assured that Phil Anselmo’s behavior in 2016 in no way reflects the views of the band,” the organizers said. Anselmo has repeatedly apologized publicly for his behavior and statements.
“We then decided to give the band Pantera a chance and thus fulfill the dream of countless rock fans to experience Pantera’s work live,” the statement continues.
In the comments there were different opinions on the reaction of the festivals. Many fans reacted angrily and accused the organizers of double standards. Others, in turn, pointed out that Anselmo hadn’t attracted attention with racist or fascist statements in recent years.
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Whether Rock am Ring and Rock im Park are doing themselves a favor by standing by their headliner will be revealed next summer at the latest.
Source: Bavarian Radio, Rolling Stone