I’m about to prod one of my own sacred cows here, but I caught this interview with Phil Anselmo of Down / Superjoint Ritual / Pantera, and I just can’t turn a blind eye. The German interviewer starts off with a kinda amateur question: Why has Philip Anselmo changed so much? And with that, the Phil show begins. Try to guess what drugs Phil is on as he talks about the “regiment” of waking up at “9 AM in the morning” (to be clear of course), and the physical therapy for his “ass muscles” required after the back surgery he underwent in 2005.
It gets funnier every time I watch it. notice where the video edits occur; you can see that there are chunks of Phil rambling that had to be clipped out… I can only imagine what was left on the cutting room floor.
If I had to guess, I’d say he’s piss drunk, and fresh off a prescription meds buffet.
But goddamn, do I love Phil Anselmo.
About Skwerl
Kevin "Skwerl" Cogill was taught his first computer programming language by his Mother's marijuana dealer at age ten. His first job involved hustling TicketMaster lines on behalf of a New Jersey concert ticket broker at age fourteen, followed by a job in graphic design shortly after graduating high school and trade school simultaneously in 1998. He built his first website in 1996 or so, and continues to do things the way they should be done, rather than the way everyone else does. He's a bit of an asshole, but he's fiercely loyal to his friends, and to fellow fans of good music.Born and raised in Philadelphia, Skwerl now resides in Los Angeles.
July 21st, 2008 at 7:46 PM
Im a huge fan of anselmo and everything he does…Pantera is my all time favorite (saw’em live twice) and I saw Down in vancouver in Oct. last year.. however I cant watch these interviews, i listen to him talk for 2 min. i wanna smash my screen. I prefer to remind myself of who he is by putting one of his many cd’s on. He says hes sober but yeeeeesh- i dont know.
July 21st, 2008 at 8:26 PM
I keep waiting for the interviewer to introduce the new Volkswagon model.
P.S. I only made it 6 mins 42 secs in. I suck.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 AM
This makes me feel like I’m not dumb enough to be in a rock band.
P.S. HOLY SHIT the guy who leaked Chinese Democracy commented on my blog.
July 23rd, 2008 at 12:43 AM
I really miss Pantera.
Like why did that psycho asshole have to kill Dimebag? Everyone says he was the nicest guy they’d ever met. I’ve heard everyone hates Phil. Dimebag could actually hold a conversation without trying to glorify himself.
Phil… you were a sideman to the best guitarist in the world. Your voice was brutal, the songs were great for a while, but Dime was the real talent. And now he is the real loss. But Phil, I have the feeling that you were already gone.
Jerk.
July 23rd, 2008 at 5:59 PM
Why is this spineless loudmouth still alive? After shooting your mouth off and getting the best guitarist ever killed because of said mouth you would think asselmo would have learned to shut the fuck up by now!!!!!!
July 24th, 2008 at 1:56 PM
The best part is when that dude asks him about the positive effect of quitting drugs, and Anselmo can’t help but laugh, lol.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:41 AM
I couldn’t watch all of this, was pathetic. What a douche. Anselmo peaked with Trendkill. Poor fella, he looked like he really had to think hard. It was like when his eyebrows got all thundercloudy you almost expected him to say something amazing, but it just never happened. Nostalgia can be a terrible thing sometimes.
July 25th, 2008 at 9:16 PM
Is it possible that the cat’s just overly verbose and stupid?
September 30th, 2008 at 3:15 PM
You guys are lame, it’s a damn interview.
October 2nd, 2008 at 5:35 AM
Oh man, I just watched some other 2008 interviews and it’s SO obvious he’s loaded, which makes me sad because he thinks he’s pulling off this ’sobriety’ image. He can’t even talk! and yes I love him, too –
Watch a 1992 interview talking about making the next album harder than “Vulgar” and he’s totally normal! He’s a regular guy just talking about music and what they write about and all that.
I can see the interviewer squinting on the side and grabbing his face waiting for Phil to end the long pauses and get a damn word out. Oh Phil, they got you on meds and you always were a drinker. Tisk Tisk.
November 5th, 2008 at 12:54 AM
I just saw Down live in Sydney and Melbourne (if any of you “fans” even know who they are…), and Philip was without a doubt, in the best form of his career. Ok, I had doubts about what I was going to see, but to my amazement he far surpassed any expectations I might have had… Never before had he radiated such intensity, whilst showing a complete lack of his former blown up ego that was clear during the final Pantera years. Yes his years of drug abuse are still evident in interviews, but I met the guy and had the pleasure of having a conversation with him, and any weakness that might have existed in him was gone. He was strong, mentally and physically, and in the best shape of his life. If anyone doubts this - feel free to see Down next time they’re in town.
As for the guy who so disrespectfully goes by the name of ‘dimabag’, it’s funny that your philosophy about Dime’s tragic murder is based on what you read in Metal Hammer. I’d laugh if it wasn’t so offensive. Stop masquerading as a “fan”.
Don’t suck out by getting all your info from media and trash mags like Metal Hammer. And don’t lose focus by zeroing in on a couple of quotes that were made during an ugly time. There’s almost two decades of history between Phil and Dime, not a couple of headlines on a bullshit “metal” mag.
November 24th, 2008 at 10:18 AM
[...] fans we’ve been sincerely concerned for his well being, especially after seeing some of his recent interviews. However, when the man called- on time- Thursday, to chat with us during some downtime on [...]
November 24th, 2008 at 4:26 PM
Phil Anselmo has done a lot of good for a lot of people, myself included. His words kept a lot of people from going over the brink, and helped a lot of people get close enough to it to realize what living is. I think its ignorant for any of you to turn your back on him for doing the same thing hes always done: speak the truth as he sees it.
November 30th, 2008 at 1:08 PM
Man, that truly hurts me to watch that. Phil at his peak, pre-junky, was as good as it gets. Now he’s a shell of himself. A shell of the man who inspired us all. I agree with the post above, I’ll remember him for who he was when he was himself. He’s just an addict now. It’s sad. And it hurts. There will never be another Pantera. I hurst me deeply to say this, but it’s just a matter of time until he od’s.