PHILIP ANSELMO's Autobiography Will Paint 'More Upbeat' Picture Of PANTERA Years Than Did REX BROWN's 'Official Truth'

Former PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo says that the "biggest aim" with his forthcoming autobiography will be to paint a "more upbeat" picture of his time with the band than bassist Rex Brown did in his 2013 memoir, "Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story Of Pantera".

Anselmo's book, which is tentatively titled "Mouth For War: Pantera And Beyond", is expected sometime next year via Simon & Schuster's Gallery Books imprint. BloodyDisgusting.com writer Corey Mitchell is co-authoring 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."

Speaking to the "Talking Metal" podcast, Anselmo said about "Mouth For War": "I have definitely postponed this book thing for quite a while. And, really, it's a tough process to do, and it really takes a lot of heads-down work to do this, and I've been so incredibly busy with my first love in my life, which is music. I'm not a book writer — I'm a songwriter, I'm a live performer, and that's what I love and that's what I've been doing. But having said that, I think eventually I'll get around to doing it and writing it.

"I think my biggest aim is to be more, I guess, upbeat about things than perhaps Rex's came across. Because there was a lot more good than there was bad — up to a certain point.

"I've said this a million times, but there's not a day that goes by that I don't think of [late PANTERA guitarist] Dimebag in one fashion or another, and I don't think anything gets lower than that."

In an 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."

Speaking to Artisan News at last year's Revolver Golden Gods awards in Los Angeles, 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."