PHILIP ANSELMO: 'I Love VINNIE PAUL And My Door Is Always Open'

Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA, ARSON ANTHEM, SUPERJOINT RITUAL) has released a videotaped statement (see below) regarding the interview he gave to the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner in which he spoke about his current relationship or lack thereof with his former PANTERA bandmate, Vinnie Paul Abbott. The complete transcript of Anselmo's message, which was recorded on September 4, follows below.

"This is Philip H. Anselmo and I just wanna talk to you people out there and all the fans that might be interested in the last video interview that I did that Blabbermouth.com [sic] got ahold of, and they picked one little sentence out of my entire transcript and they made it a headline and they made it look ugly. Really, all I was saying was that I love Vinnie Paul and my door is always open. I may not approve of how he may go about things and this and that in regards to our relationship, but still, the big deal and the bottom line here is, make no doubt and let there be no question, I love Vince, and all of you out there, you know what Blabbermouth is it's a sensationalist site and they're looking for as many hits as they can possibly get at anyone's expense. So take that for it's worth. I apologize to anyone who I might have offended who read this little headline. But for any of you who were offended, read a little deeper into it, and you'll understand that I come from love as well. Once again, my choice of words wasn't the best, but that's just how I talk. Anyway, I love you all. See you soon on tour."

For the record, BLABBERMOUTH.NET's original article included Anselmo's **entire response** to the question about his current relationship with Vinnie Paul, not just an excerpt. It can also be found below.

In the above-mentioned interview conducted prior to DOWN's September 1 concert at Backstage Live in San Antonio, Texas, Jay Nanda of the San Antonio Metal Music Examiner asked Anselmo about his current relationship with late PANTERA guitarist Dimebag's longtime girlfriend Rita Haney and how their recently opened lines of communication have caused Dimebag's brother, Vinnie Paul Abbott, to get a little bit upset with her. "I'm fine with Rita," Anselmo replied. "Me and Rita have always been cool. Sure, there was a fallout. But the way I look at it is, if it really is affecting someone to where they have to come out and say hateful things about me, untrue things about me, paint bullshit mystique about me, then, in their heart of hearts, they do care about me that's the point. Vinnie Paul's closed-door policy when it comes to me, that's something he's gonna have to ride around on his shoulders the rest of his fucking life. I know this: My door is always open, and always has been open always has been fucking open. And it is a little frustrating when you have a loose end and you're trying to tighten everything up. But you can't make everybody fucking happy all of the time you can't. So, Vinnie Paul, he has no effect on my life at all no effect at all. Good job, I'll say to Vince you've hurt me. And you keep on hurting me. Great job! Where is it getting you? That's my question to him. My door has always been wide open, and I'll leave it at that, because I think everybody else knows the rest. It's fucking pretty A-B-C simple. He doesn't want to There is a fear in him of me. That motherfucker is so fucking terrified of me. But somewhere within that terror, somewhere within this invented and I do say 'invented' scapegoat fucking snapping redneck hatred of his, there is a love bigger than any of that fucking shit, and that's why he's acting the way he's acting. So that's that."

Haney recently called on Vinnie and Philip to settle their differences in honor of Dimebag, who was shot and killed by a crazed gunman while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at a Columbus, Ohio rock club in December 2004.

Vinnie and Anselmo have not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie indirectly blamed Philip for Dimebag's death, suggesting that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag's killer.

Now Haney has spoken out about the long-running feud, saying, "Everybody still has resentment towards each other about things in the past. It's easy to direct your anger at the wrong people. Philip didn't murder Darrell and [he] would never have wanted that."

Haney added, "Yeah, I resent Philip for becoming a jackass and a drug addict, and I'm a little sketchy about trusting him all the way yet. But some of the things he's emailed and some of the thing he's said that's the Philip I know, the 'stronger than all.' There's always room in my heart for him I love him."

Haney admitted that Vinnie is not happy that she's been in touch with Anselmo, saying, "I just hope some day he sees the light that I know Darrell is about, which is forgiving. I know it'll come in time you've got to let go to continue on."

New video message/clarification from Anselmo (September 4, 2011):

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner Interview Part 1 (September 1, 2011):

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner Interview Part 2 (featuring the Vinnie Paul discussion) (September 1, 2011):

San Antonio Metal Music Examiner Interview Part 3 (September 1, 2011):