PHILIP ANSELMO On His Forthcoming Autobiography: 'The Hardest Person I'm Gonna Be On Is Myself'

Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA, ARSON ANTHEM, SUPERJOINT RITUAL) and BloodyDisgusting.com writer Corey Mitchell last year secured a deal with Jeremie Ruby-Strauss, senior editor at Simon & Schuster's Gallery Books imprint, for Anselmo's autobiography, which will tentatively be titled "Mouth For War: Pantera, Pain, & Pride - Heavy Metal Highs, Drugged Out Lows, & The Battle For My Life". Corey will co-author the book, which is described 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." A 2014 release is expected.

Speaking to Artisan News on the black carpet of the Revolver Golden Gods awards in Los Angeles on May 2 (see video below),Anselmo stated about his upcoming autobiography: "First and foremost, it's not just a PANTERA book. Now, PANTERA is a gigantic part of my life — let's not ever, ever mix these signals — but it's more a book about myself and how it took to get from all of the peaks, valleys and the in-betweens; that really, really sums things up. There is my persective, of course, but I think the hardest person I'm gonna be on is myself. Because we all get the cards that we're dealt, and it's up to us to deal with that how we deal with it."

In a recent interview with MetalSucks, Anselmo was asked for his opinion of "Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story Of Pantera", the recently published memoir from his former PANTERA and DOWN bandmate, bassist Rex Brown.

"Honestly, [Rex's] assessment of me [in the book] — I don't care," Anselmo said. "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."