Scour’s Derek Engemann Defends Phil Anselmo Over 2016 ‘Dimebash’ Controversy in Now-Deleted Interview

Back in January 2016, Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Down, Superjoint Ritual) faced widespread backlash after being filmed giving a Nazi salute and uttering the phrase ‘white power’ onstage at the annual ‘Dimebash’ tribute event for his late bandmate, ‘Dimebag’ Darrell Abbott. The incident sparked immediate controversy, leading to public condemnations from figures in the metal community, including Machine Head’s Robb Flynn and Anthrax’s Scott Ian. Anselmo initially dismissed the act as a joke related to drinking ‘white wine’ backstage but later issued multiple apologies and addressed the situation in an October 2016 interview with Decibel magazine, denying racist beliefs and attributing his actions to provocation from hecklers in the crowd.

The fallout saw Anselmo removed from major festivals and some headlining shows canceled. However, over time, he has continued his career, including launching a Pantera reunion with Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante, reactivating Down, and fronting other projects. Despite the years that have passed, criticism still lingers. In November 2023, Metal Hammer published an op-ed accusing Anselmo of ‘whitewashing his own legacy’ by reviving Pantera, while Power Trip faced backlash last fall for choosing to tour with the reformed band, given the views their late frontman Riley Gale had expressed about Anselmo post-incident.

Most recently, Derek Engemann—guitarist/vocalist for Anselmo’s black metal project Scour and a former member of Cattle Decapitation and Misery Index—spoke on the matter. When asked about the ‘Dimebash’ incident in a now deleted video interview with John The Ninja (transcribed by Blabbermouth.net), Engemann recalled being at the event and witnessing the events unfold firsthand:

“Yeah, that was an unfortunate event, to say the least. John Jarvis [Scour bassist/vocalist] and I were actually there at the ‘Dimebash‘ that night. We were backstage hanging out and drinking. There was a lot of drinking involved. It is what it was back then. But a lot of people don’t really realize what happened.

So, they jammed all night for Dime, bringing out supergroups of [different] people. Rex [Brown, Pantera bassist] was there; all kinds of people were there. And Phil came out at the end for three songs. I think they did [a cover of a] Motörhead [song], they did [Pantera‘s] ‘A New Level‘, I think, and something else.

The second [Phil] came out on stage, there was a group of these three guys that were just — they were just heckling him from the second he walked out on stage, like, ‘You racist. You fucking racist,’ blah, blah, blah. And everyone’s, like, ‘Yo, shut the fuck up. We’re trying to enjoy Pantera. This is for Dime. This isn’t about your bullshit.’ And they just kept on heckling him the entire time he was out.

And at the end, he just lost it. And he was a little drunk and he did the most offensive thing he could to those people. And they were there with their camera. It wasn’t like he had pure hate in his heart, and he’s, like, ‘This is what I’m gonna say tonight. I’m gonna make a statement.’ It was, like, these motherfuckers were heckling him all night long, and he just threw gas on the fire. And it was super unfortunate. I know he feels terrible about it. [It was] probably a little embarrassing, I’m sure.”

He further defended Anselmo, stating:

“It’s not the best part of history, but Phil‘s owned it. He’s apologized. That’s not who he is. I’ve toured with him around the world with The Illegals, Scour shows, Pantera stuff. It’s just not who is. Even our most recent videos were shot by Malcolm Pugh, who’s half black. That’s my dawg. We go back 20 years too. We used to live together and whatnot. But he said people kept asking him, like, ‘Oh, I can’t believe you’re working with [Phil] after that.’ And he’s like, man, ‘Phil‘s been nothing but gracious to me, backstage, at his home.’ He’s, like, ‘I don’t even know what you’re talking about.’

So, I don’t know. I don’t know how else to say it, but it’s, like, that’s not who [Phil] is. It was a bad moment.”

According to Engemann, Pugh himself dismissed accusations against Anselmo:

“He said people kept asking him, like, ‘Oh, I can’t believe you’re working with [Phil] after that.’ And he’s like, ‘Man, Phil’s been nothing but gracious to me, backstage, at his home.’ He’s, like, ‘I don’t even know what you’re talking about.’”

While the ‘Dimebash’ incident remains a controversial moment in Anselmo’s career, Engemann maintains that the frontman has moved forward and continues to prove himself within the metal community.

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