PHILIP ANSELMO Is No Longer Interested In Releasing His Autobiography

Former PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo says he is no longer interested in releasing his autobiography, explaining that writing a book would be like "going backwards constantly."

Anselmo and BloodyDisgusting.com writer Corey Mitchell in 2013 secured a deal with Jeremie Ruby-Strauss, senior editor at Simon & Schuster's Gallery Books imprint, for Anselmo's memoir, which was supposed to be titled "Mouth For War: Pantera, Pain, & Pride - Heavy Metal Highs, Drugged Out Lows, & The Battle For My Life". Corey was slated to co-author the book, which was described at the time as "a no-holds-barred look inside of Philip's brain, his history with PANTERA, the loss of his best-friend, Dimebag Darrell, and an unflinching examination into the downward spiral of pain and drug addiction that nearly cost him his life."

It has now been more than two years since Anselmo's book deal was first announced, and during that time Mitchell, a true-crime author and Housecore Horror Film Festival co-founder, passed away after suffering a heart attack last October, mere hours after the second annual event had concluded. He was only 47 years old.

Asked for an update on the status of his book during an appearance on the latest installment of "The MetalSucks Podcast", Anselmo said: "I don't wanna do it. I don't wanna do it."

He continued: "You know what?! Here's my take on it… After reading [former PANTERA bassist] Rex's [Brown] book [2013's 'Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story Of Pantera'] and then all that's been said and whatnot about PANTERA, I don't wanna do it right now.

"I'm 47 years old. I think I'm pretty open with the press these days; I ain't got shit to fucking hide, and I tell my side of the story. And it's, like, I'm an open book as it is — you could ask me fucking anything, and I'll tell you the fucking truth. And that's about that. And as far as my private life goes, my private thoughts, and this and that, I'm not so goddamn sure that I want the rest of the world knowing all my goddamn business. It's, like, there's gotta be some limit or line there.

"So, with Corey — rest in peace and bless his heart — we're gonna continue on with the horror festival in his honor, because he was the hardest worker and… he was a tremendous believer in the horror fest. So, really, out of our union and supposed work and the book and whatnot, really, it was the horror fest that came out the truest and to be the most real and in-common thing that we had with each other: the love of horror films and extreme music. I think that was a lot more fun for him to do than any of the bullshit we did with the book. We didn't even get past… barely past puberty as far as talking about the fucking book."

Anselmo added: "So, like I say, man, I don't wanna do it, but maybe somewhere down the line, hopefully, thirty years from now, if I'm that fucking lucky, or if I'm on my deathbed, then fuck it, I'll speak and spout it out and tell everybody what the fuck and whatever. But right now, I'm not real interested in doing that. I'm more interested in writing new music and producing bands and moving forward.

"It feels like doing a book is going backwards constantly — backwards, backwards, backwards — and it just doesn't feel noble, it doesn't feel right, it doesn't feel true to me. What feels true to me is moving forward in life and doing different shit and doing creative shit and being the best asshole I can be moving forward, you know. Fuck it."

In a previous interview with MetalSucks, Anselmo was asked for his opinion of "Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story Of Pantera". He said: "Honestly, [Rex's] assessment of me [in the book] — I don't care. Egotistical, self-centered, everything is always about me. Y'know what? I'm a lead singer and he's a bass player. That's his perception. So I'm fine with it. I don't hold any fucking grudges. But I think he did take some angry swipes and I don't need to be specific. There is a great deal of mythology when it comes to his 'quitting' DOWN. That particular chapter is a little disturbing."

Anselmo also commented on the fact that former PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott was at times painted in a very negative light in Rex's book.

"I'm not sure that type of beating [on Vince] was necessary," Anselmo said. "Vince is a difficult guy and was always a different type of guy. But did he deserve that type of beating? I don't think so. When I do my book, I want it to be known that it's not just a PANTERA book. And I'm not in a pissing contest with Rex. It's a shame."

He continued: "Rex has many faults, just like anyone else. But it sure seems like he wants to put fault on other people to take away from his humanity. We're all full of faults. Maybe it's easier for some of us to admit."