Phil Anselmo's the Typical Everyday Kind of Guy

Best known as the former singer of heavy metal act Pantera, Philip H. Anselmo or Phil has been around the music scene for quite some time now. Going through various projects dating back to the times of Pantera, Down, Superjoint Ritual, Arson Anthem, among others he has gotten some time on his hands to hit the solo route with his first ever solo project he likes to call Philip H. Anselmo and The Illegals. Now that some time has surpassed the solo album "Walk Through Exits Only" is underway with further material leading onto many more surprises!

1. Do you consider yourself a legend in metal or just a typical everyday guy?

Phil: I roll with the typical everyday guy than any fucking day over legendary status or rock star label. Honestly I'm just a fucking music nerd like anybody else, I love extreme heavy metal, music of all sorts, just a BIG music fan and my opinion ya know?

2. You choose to call your solo project Philip H Anselmo and the Illegals, how come?

Phil: Those group of guys makes so much fun of me so you know what I am going to get them back so I am going to call them "The Illegals" on this record. Just like an inside joke between us like on the next record I might call them the buttercups, or butterflies, or the dandelions it's just a one record thing. I call it my name because honestly it's my music written from the ground up and if I called it by another band name it would have just been another band to buy into it so seeing my name they will know it's my product. It's all my idea and each solo record will be different than the last so take it for what it's worth.

3. Why did you want to start your own label and was it a difficult thing to do? What is your goal with having this label?

Phil: It's taken on different shapes and forms. I wanted it to be an outlet for music that I like or acceptable or enjoyable. I haven't signed a band in a long time I do have my eyes on different bands  with different music. I am a musician first so I don't think everything has been met yet. I have this denotation to music with the growth of music. There is an extreme metal part of it that's being repeated over and over again due to so many bands changing the game of it. So we'll see what happens.

4. You've been a part of the Metal Masters Clinic for a few years now, do you plan to come back this year?

Phil: I would think so as long as my brothers from Slayer, Anthrax, all those guys are there for sure. Those are some of the most awesome people in the world and everyone running it, it's a giant crazy family reunion.

5. "Walk Through Exits Only" is your new solo album why did you think that now would be the right time to do this?

Phil: You gota look at circumstances the question could be why not? Why not do it now? Why wait? Down has wrapped up its touring cycle for the last EP. So for me right now is perfect so the timing works well so to answer a question with a question why not? I am 45 fucking years old, I ain't getting any younger might as well do it now.

6. Can you tell me if there is anything new happening with Arson Anthem?

Phil: Arson? Nope nothing new with them. It was fun to do while it lasted. Once again gota look at the circumstances Arson's singer also sings for EyeHateGod I know they have a tour coming up lasting them a few weeks. Then also are tracking their new album in the studio over here so hopefully there's a great chance at mixing and being a part of that record. Arson was one of many side projects I had done but as of right now naw.

7. You have been in a number of bands active and non-active would you ever consider bringing them altogether for one big show?

Phil: That's an interesting concept and I think it's been discussed before. Maybe in the back of my mind in my dreams something like that could happen but there's a lot of music I have been sitting on for the past 20 years that no one has ever heard it's just not heavy metal music. Maybe there will have to be a release of the music that no one has heard of before. I have done atmospheric music, acoustic music, very depression-core style of music, very far cry from bands like The Swans or The Smiths at their most bleak. So I have done a lot of different styles it would be a very semi-complex production to get out there and do it but would be fun too. Also would be a nightmare figuring out so many musicians involved from the past so picking and choosing would be hard so it would be a maybe ya know?

8. How does it feel to have had "Vulgar Display of Power" be around for over 20 years do you think it's still as powerful as it was when it was first released?

Phil: Well I am not so sure about that. I know that for sure that Pantera has some of the greatest fans in the world I cannot say enough and how awesome they have been over the years. Vulgar Display Of Power is in the books as one of those influential records of its time. It's an honor to be a part of such a movement of the 80s-90s so whether it's absolute classic or not I will let the critics, the fans, decide that for themselves. I gota say overall Pantera has the best fucking fans in the world and what's keeping us alive are the songs, the memories, more power to them.

9. IF Pantera ever gets back together even for 1 night, where would you want the show, what songs would you want to do, and why would you want to?

Phil: Well see that's a complex question, first off Dimebag is not alive anymore so that's a big factor in a gigantic way. There would have to be a lot of sitting down, going over a lot of very important elements, between myself and the other members. Choosing the guitar player and what not. Which it is this is all hypothetical really I guess, the answer would be why not where it all started, where it all began in Dallas, Texas. I don't see why any other city would make sense or not be fair to the east or west coasts, because Pantera fans are everywhere so that's a tough question for me to answer. I guess hypothetically it would be Dallas, Texas.

10. How many more demos or unreleased songs from Pantera are there that have yet to be released?

Phil: Honestly Pantera was not the band to waste a lot of time demoing so to speak. Actual Pantera demos I don't think there are any that exist, unless I am proven totally wrong and my mind is completely blank, I don't think it is. I don't think we have anymore  or unheard or unknown songs. I guess with all of the re-releasing of our records in 20 year interludes this next one will be pretty pure and straight to the point so as of right now it's something we'll see but I don't think there is anything left. There are recording's that I have done in the past but those weren't under the name Pantera, those with Dimebag would surprise people that have never heard them before, so letting go of that stuff I would have to give that a lot of a consideration to let that all go. Really me and Dimebag and our friends would come together as one and jam out for fun, just doing it for the sake of music having a library of material but that being released your guess is as good as mine.

11. You of course are known for Pantera but do you ever get tired of being asked questions in regards to Pantera?

Phil: Not really no. If that's a question people that people have then it's a legit question. I'm not the type of guy to shrug off anything I am an open book, I have nothing to hide or anything to be ashamed of or overly secretive about or anything. So when it comes to Pantera I am a open book and I respect the questions and will give my best answer. So if it's anybody a fan or anyone wanting to talk about them it's in my opinion it's a valid answer adding my own insight, making things special for the person asking. I always love talking music so if they want to talk about them so be it.

12. When it comes to playing the Pantera songs does it ever hit you emotionally that you just cannot go through with playing them?

Phil: No, no, no, no not at all. We definitely do some old Pantera songs at the Metal Masters Clinic and all it does for me is think of the old days and it's enjoyable for me. Pantera isn't the first band to have a tragic thing happen, it isn't the first band to break up or go through problems or anything like that. So a lot of my memories are the great memories playing with them, doing the shows, the audience being so fucking incredible and the energy coming off the stage was amazing. It just brings back great memories.

13. Does Down have anything new in the works as of right now?

Phil: We just wrapped up our touring for the EP. We've already begun material for the next EP in the works, heading into the studio to work on it this November in the fall. I think the next EP will be coming out within the first months of 2014.

14. You have been around the scene for a long time doing all sorts of stuff but is something that Phil Anselmo will not do?

Phil: I would be a terrible actor, if I had to sit there learning lines I would hate that it would be awful. I am a big movie buff but a type of guy who has no plans on directing the films just watching them. I don't know what I would not do, I couldn't try out for the NFL, I couldn't start a boxing career tomorrow, I couldn't do things that I like, like football or boxing like coaching that's a complex question. I don't think I would be good at hip hop or rap music plus I don't think that would go over well. There is stuff out there but to pin point it, it's like "WOW" pretty broad question.