DOWN's Hometown Concert Canceled After PHILIP ANSELMO's Nazi Salute, 'White Power' Comment

DOWN's February 8 concert at Civic Theatre in New Orleans, Louisiana has been canceled by the organizers following an incident last month where the band's lead singer, Philip Anselmo, said "white power" and made the Nazi salute at a show.

An official statement regarding the cancelation reads as follows: "After recent actions by Phil Anselmo during the Dimebash event this past week, we have cancelled DOWN's performance at the Civic. We do not tolerate intolerant behavior, and there is no room for that in our venue or our city. Refunds are available at point of purchase. In addition to offering full refunds for all ticket purchases, the Civic has made a donation to the Jewish Federation of New Orleans, pledging our support for a united community."

Also included in the statement was the following quote from Bob Marley: "Me only have one ambition, y'know. I only have one thing I really like to see happen. I like to see mankind live together — black, white, Chinese, everyone — that's all."

Anselmo performed the PANTERA classic "Walk" at the January 22 "Dimebash" event at the Lucky Strike Live in Hollywood, California in honor of his former bandmate, late PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. As he left the stage, he made a Nazi-style salute. He appeared to say "white power" as he made the gesture, but he later claimed he was referring to drinking white wine as part of an "inside joke." Anselmo has since released a video message, saying that he "deserves completely" the "heat" that he has been getting over his actions and claiming to be "a thousand percent apologetic to anyone that took offense to what [he] said."

Several notable musicians have come out and criticized Anselmo for his actions, including MACHINE HEAD frontman Robb Flynn, who uploaded an eleven-minute video response to the incident in which he called Anselmo a "big bully" and described Philip's behavior as "fucking wrong."

Earlier today, Anselmo released another statement in which he said: "My [DOWN] bandmates 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."