PHILIP H. ANSELMO AND THE ILLEGALS
Pictured: Stephen Taylor, Mike DeLeon, Derek Engemann, Joey Gonzalez + Phil Anselmo - PHILLIP H. ANSELMO + THE ILLEGALS
Taking Livestreaming to A New Level
Written by: Tom Wilson - Sense Music Media
If you're reading this, you know damn well who PANTERA were, so let's not waste time. On April 9th, Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals - Steve Taylor, Mike De Leon, Derek Engemann and Joey "Blue" Gonzalez - will be stepping in front of the cameras to perform "A Vulgar Display of PANTERA", a tribute to the Texan groove metal superstars sampling from all five classic albums. They have been performing variations of this set around the world over the last few years, and Sense was there to bear witness as they laid waste to The Back Room in Brisbane in 2019 as part of the Thrash Blast Grind tour. My neck has never been the same since.
They will be joined by Melbourne thrashcore lunatics KING PARROT. It will be loud. It will be heavy. It will be on A New Level. And on April 9th, they'll be bringing the thunder to your living room. We spoke to the man himself, Phil Anselmo...
I recently celebrated three years sober, and I understand that you’ve been leading a pretty clean lifestyle these days too. What are some of the best bits of advice you can give to people struggling with addiction?
This is a huge question, and I'll probably not do it the justice it deserves here, but I’d say this: life is long. If you can make the decision to get high, you can make the decision to be sober. Try it both ways, and always have an open mind. Of course it’s gonna be tough, so you may as well get started (being sober).
What are some of the best things about running [your record label] Housecore? What are some of the biggest challenges?
I can make my own decisions — I don’t HAVE to do anything in any timeframe, and i don’t have to answer to anyone (except my wife). [Laughs]
You supported SLAYER on the final run of their farewell tour. How do you see their legacy?
Massive and everlasting. Absolute warriors.
What can you say to the rumours that you’re starting something with Kerry King?
I'd say they’re rumors, for now.
How would you describe the new Illegals material, compared to Choosing Mental Illness? And how would you describe the Illegals writing process? Is it almost a conscious decision to be as far removed from groove as possible?
[Laughs] We started the band to be extreme, but also, to play whatever style we wanted. The Illegals stuff is noisy, for sure.
You’re famous for your love of horror movies. How did this start when you were young? What were some of the first ones you saw as a kid? What are some of your favourite horror films of the last twenty years, and why?
Another huge question I doubt I'll do justice! But my mom influenced me to watch and love all things horror-related. Some of the earliest flicks I can recall seeing are, How Awful About Allen, Attack of The Mushroom People, Black Sabbath and so on …
I also loved TV horror, like Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and Night Gallery.
Last 20 years? Not too sure, but there’s been plenty!
I’ve been on a Giallo trip for the last several years, so anything Bava & most times Argento, and sometimes Fulci related, I love. And Pupi Avati!!!
How did you come to put together the setlist for this livestream? Was it a hard decision to make? What are some that you are most looking forward to?
Oh! I see what you’re doing! [Laughs]
I will NOT reveal the setlist! You sneaky devil, you.
But honestly, it was kinda difficult to pick out the best songs for a single show. We did our best!
What first drew you to KING PARROT? What made them stand out in your eyes?
The way they throw down live! Very much the way we did it back in the day. Plus, they’re like a hardcore AC/DC.
Stream goes live around 9am Saturday morning in Australia, and will be available to rewatch until April 12th at 11:59 PM ET.
