An unspeakable discussion has come to an end: the metal band Pantera will not be performing at the twin festivals Rock am Ring and Rock im Park. It's the only right decision. Allegations that the "cancel culture" has struck again are completely misplaced. Anyone who openly shows the Hitler salute on stage is not allowed to get a seat at the biggest festivals - especially not in Germany.
Similar to football, many fans also say at music festivals: please keep politics out. After all, it's about the music. At first glance, this may seem like an understandable thought. However, when it comes to a band like Pantera and especially their frontman Phil Anselmo, the question must be allowed who came up with the idea of inviting the band in the first place.
Yes, musically Pantera enjoys something of a legend status among metal fans. And when such a legendary band gets together again 20 years after they broke up and goes on tour, quite a few fans jump for joy. The idea for organizers is naturally obvious to book exactly this band for a festival in order to increase ticket sales.
But Pantera is not a normal band. And their legendary status must not outweigh a racism debate. Especially if it happens repeatedly. In the past, many fellow musicians have criticized the Texans for never having clearly differentiated themselves from the right. For a long time, the Confederate flag of the American Southern States was something like Pantera's band logo. They played guitars in this design, fans could purchase t-shirts and other merchandise featuring the flag.
Criticism was raised. Especially after the 2015 Charleston attack in which nine African Americans were killed by a white supremacist. And Pantera did what right-wingers do: They were vague, emphasizing the tradition of the flag, and saying you can't please everyone. There was no comment that the red flag with the white cross is a symbol of racism and slavery for many.
Anselmo in particular was repeatedly associated with racist ideas. Opportunities to make a clear statement were missed again and again. This raises the question of whether you don't want to offend some of your fans, or whether the band itself isn't averse to this ideology.
But at the latest since Anselmo's public Hitler salute at a festival in honor of the shot Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell and the associated "White Power" calls, it should be clear to everyone where Anselmo stands. He reacted to criticism with arrogance and explained that it was all just a joke. He later rowed back. He was drunk that night. Let me know who has ever benefited from this statement.
A band like Pantera has no place on the biggest stages in the country. Just the idea that at Rock im Park, on the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds of the National Socialists, a man standing on the stage who openly gave the Hitler salute makes one bile rise.
Nevertheless, some fans complained after Pantera was uninvited in the comment columns on social platforms. There was talk of "Cancel Culture", which struck again. About "Woken", who now also decide at their own discretion whether a band fits into a festival or not and, if necessary, defend themselves "with the racism club".
This discussion is old hat. Nazi is he who does Nazi things or says Nazi things. Phil Anselmo did those things. And he then neither apologized credibly, nor did he credibly campaign against the law.
Getting a right wing band kicked out of a festival isn't cancel culture - it's common sense.
