For the second time in a week, Phil Anselmo has apologized for his actions that took place at the Dimebash on January 22nd. In the wake of Down getting dropped from a Dutch festival, Anselmo took to his web site for a lengthy apology that not only sounds more contrite than before, but actually says that he suggested Down move on without him. Whether he’s talking about the band continuing on and playing the festival without him, or as a more permanent move is unclear, but it really seems like he knows just how wrong his actions were and have been, not just from the 22nd, but for the majority of his life. Here’s his statement:
“Every citizen in this entire world has the unalienable right to live with dignity and respect without hate or oppression. And I mean this, with all of my crushed, yet, guilty heart. It’s common knowledge that we can choose to either learn from our mistakes, or continue on a path of insensitivity and destruction.
“I am utterly responsible for the mistakes I have made, and can only give you my word to no longer do them in the present, through ACTION, not just mere words. My band mates are now experiencing the consequences of my behavior, and I now publicly apologize to them as well. Never in my entire lifetime would I drag them down with me, and I’ve privately suggested to them that they move on without me.
“My biggest obstacle(s) are the over-indulging in the booze and blurting out spiteful, ignorant reductions of the human spirit itself. I will address these issues, head-on. I’m repulsed by my own actions, and the self-loathing I’m going through right now is justified by the hurt I’ve caused. I realize we live in a society where apologies are NOT accepted easily, yet long for a day when they can be, but I also understand if I’m shunned till I hit the dirt.
“From the bottom of my heart, and with all sincerity, I once again am truly sorry for the pain I have caused. With truth, love, hope & respect- Philip H. Anselmo”
While Down has been a collective since they formed, it’s hard to imagine what they would sound like without Anselmo. Perhaps Pepper Keenan could handle vocals, but without Phil, it wouldn’t be the same. Other web sites have suggested that people stop giving Anselmo a free pass on his racist actions. It seems like he might have decided to stop giving himself one as well.
