Foo Fighters recently replaced Pantera on the billing of the Rock Am Ring and Rock Im Park festivals in Germany this spring.
Foo Fighters announced as the replacement
On Monday (January 23), organizers for the festivals announced that the reformed Pantera — featuring ‘s surviving members Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown (bass) along with guitarist Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society) and drummer Charlie Benante (Anthrax) — would no longer appear at the two simultaneous rock festivals, which will take place June 2-4 in Nürburgring and Nürnberg, respectively.
The decision to remove the band from the bill came after “intensive conversations” over the fact that Anselmo made a Nazi-style salute when he performed at the January 2016 “Dimebash” event at the Lucky Strike Live in Hollywood in honor of late Pantera guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott. He also appeared to say “white power” as he made the gesture, but later claimed he was joking about drinking white wine backstage and was reacting to the audience members up front who he says were taunting him.
Foo Fighters’ addition to the festivals was announced by the band members themselves via their official Instagram, with the band writing, “Germany – we’ll see you Friday, June 2nd at Rock Am Ring and Sunday, June 4th at Rock Im Park! Tickets on sale now!”
Late last month, Foo Fighters vowed to carry on as “a different band” following the passing of drummer Taylor Hawkins.
