PHILIP ANSELMO Talks Upcoming DOWN EP, Solo Touring Plans

Nathan Smith of the Riverfront Times recently conducted an interview with former PANTERA and current DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo. A few excerpts from the chat follow below.

On playing small places with his solo band, THE ILLEGALS:

"I like the small stages. Matter of fact, on this particular run, that's what I begged for. I said, 'Let's play some very small, intimate places,' because it's just a different experience, and it's really something I enjoy.

"I've played on every size fuckin' stage in the world over the years, and it's good to get back on the smaller stages because it's where I started. And honestly, it's something that's just a good reminder of where you came from."

On THE ILLEGALS' touring plans:

"We've got a lot of European dates going, too, in the summertime of 2014, so our work is hardly done. Really, I'm going to feel it out. Of course, I have the new DOWN record that's just about wrapped up, and I'll be doing some touring once that sucker comes out. I do believe, as long as I concentrate on DOWN and THE ILLEGALS, specifically, there's going to be time for both."

On DOWN's recent split with guitarist Kirk Windstein and addition of Bobby Landgraf:

"We are looking at it as a permanent situation. DOWN is DOWN, but still when you have a talent like Bobby, of course you want to show it off and let him be him. He's a great Southern-rock guitar player, and if anything, all we've done is to put into his mind, I guess, the BLACK SABBATH of it all."

On DOWN's upcoming EP:

"With this new EP, man, all I can think of is BLACK SABBATH and the other bands aside from them that are really responsible for DOWN even existing, which are these early '80s bands that were influenced by BLACK SABBATH — WITCHFINDER GENERAL and ST. VITUS. So, that's the vibe I'm catching: a very old metal vibe with this new DOWN."

On the touring lifestyle:

"These days, you've got to tone down on the hours that you keep, those late hours that you keep. You've got to get your rest and say goodnight to the after-show party way before everybody else. You do what's smart for the next show and you try to do your best to maintain.

"All this comes with age and experience, for God's sake. It's the nature of the beast, man, so you just gotta roll with it."

On his plans for 2014:

"I just want to put these records out, especially the new DOWN record. I want to tour that sucker. I want to tour parts of the world with THE ILLEGALS that we have not covered yet; cities throughout America that we passed over.

"The worst part about touring for me is gettin' there; the traveling part. So I'm going to try to chill out, relax, take the trip, not stress out on that, and just get to the gigs, perform to the best of my ability and have fucking fun with it, man. Because this is not rocket science: This is something I've done since my teens. Once I'm there at gigs, no matter what it is, man, I have a fucking blast. So I'm really just going to concentrate on having fucking fun this year."

Read more from the Riverfront Times.