Pantera announced on February 28th two shows in Germany, taking place on June 2nd and 3rd in Stuttgart and Dresden, respectively, after canceling dates in the country due to controversies involving Phil Anselmo .
The reunion-tribute tour performances replace their cancelled appearances at the simultaneous German festivals Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park . The spot in the events' lineup was filled by the Foo Fighters .
The reason for this decision was a Nazi salute performed by vocalist Phil Anselmo in the past . In 2016, during the Dimebash honoring the late Dimebag Darrell , the singer raised his right hand in a Nazi salute and shouted the white supremacist slogan "White Power".
Criticism also revolved around the fact that one of the cities where the festival takes place, Nuremberg, was the site of rallies held by supporters of Adolf Hitler .
Recently, in an interview with Guitar World , guitarist Zakk Wylde commented on the cancellation of the performances: “There’s nothing I can do about it, you know? In terms of my role, it’s always a matter of being ready for whatever – like seeing if the guys want to add more songs or something while we’re rolling together on this tour. If I get a call from Phil or Rex and they want to change the setlist or do whatever, I’m usually already in the back room working on more songs!”
In parallel with the tribute reunion, Pantera will be touring North America alongside Lamb of God . Tickets for the shows in Germany, as well as more information, can be found on the official website .
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