Pantera ~ Racism in Metal

This recent incident isn't the first time I've seen Anselmo accused of such. I distinctly remember last time he was called out that he was "highly fucking offended" by the accusations. Didn't really buy it then and still don't. I enjoy Pantera, but Phil has never struck me as a particularly likable individual. 

Well you won´t find opinions like that directly in their music. Phil is a drunk idiot (he always seems like he is drunk these days), who said something stupid. It probably sounded funny in his drunken mind, and he forgot to think of the consequences, which is often the case with drunk people (been there myself many times. Most famously when I ran naked through the city, urinating on any church I could find. Those were the days ). I understand why people are upset and question his motives, but personally I just think he´s  drunk fuck, who fucked up Again. Problem is that he is famous and therefore has a responsibility that he doesn´t live up to, when acting like this.

Edited by UMUR - 01 Feb 2016 at 9:17am

^well it was a nice warm summer morning. Just graduated from high school

You make a fair point. Pantera (unless I'm missing something) is not a racist band. One or more band members may or may not be racist.

Edited by Bosh66 - 01 Feb 2016 at 11:00am

^That is true. Kids shouldn't be hearing this kind of shit, well nobody should, but especially not kids. I think here it's up to parents to teach their kids right from wrong and tell them to be open to asking questions about something they hear or see.

I've never cared one lick about any band's politics, I usually don't even pay attention to lyrics.  It's either good music or it isn't.

I don't recall Anselmo's beliefs ever showing up in their songs.  I suspect he just wanted attention when he did stuff like that.

If you want some more examples of controversial opinions among metal musicians, look no further than Varg


Edited by Triceratopsoil - 01 Feb 2016 at 12:35pm

Wouldn't hold off on adding a band if they musically belong here. MMA doesn't have a full written policy on the issue yet, but when we do it'll be on the same lines as RYM's:

Patrick makes some good points. It's far too easy to pass off these kind of views as those of a harmless drunken fool. Racism ruins life every day and pretty much everywhere across the globe. Unfortunately it's far from a historical problem.
To Adam's point though, we shouldn't avoid adding racist or any other unpleasant (that seems too soft a word) band to the database. As Colin says, we're a database and the most obnoxious metal band is still a metal band.
I also kind of agree with Colin that there should be no need for a disclaimer, at least at an artist level. The biography should mention in a matter of fact way what kind of band the artist is or movements they belong to. A disclaimer at a site level though would make our position clear.

Edited by Unitron - 01 Feb 2016 at 3:55pm

So where are the limits here? Can we add an artist that is metal and is into kiddie rape or something? Beastiality? Sex with toasters?