Pantera shows cancelled after frontman’s Nazi salute invites backlash

Pantera faces show cancellation.

This week, three dates of Pantera's upcoming reunion tour were postponed, ostensibly because of a 2016 incident in which frontman Phil Anselmo gave the Nazi salute and shouted "white power" during a performance.

The renowned Texas metal band, which hasn't performed live in more than 20 years, was removed off the rosters of the German festivals Rock am Ring and Rock im Park earlier this week, according to Consequence.

Pantera's cancellation was mentioned by the festivals' promoter as the cause of the decision, which was taken after "intensive conversations with artists, our partners, and you, the festival fans."

Now, the band's May 31 performance at Vienna's Gasometer venue has also been postponed.

Similar to Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, the Austrian show's organiser did not provide a specific reason for the cancellation, noting only that ticket holders will receive refunds.

According to Blabbermouth, the German Green party was at least partially responsible for the backlash against the band's German bookings.

At a recent Nürnberg city council meeting, a spokeswoman for the party criticised Anselmo's "repeated" use of Nazi slogans and ideology and claimed that it was reckless to book the band given that Rock am Ring is held on grounds that were once used by the Nazi party.

In the manner of the UK's Reading and Leeds festivals, Rock am Ring and Rock im Park are independent events with a shared roster.