Is Philip Anselmo planning the return of Down?

Although the band hasn't performed live since 2016, the lead vocalist and Pantera icon recently said the group were "offered some shows" to celebrate the 25th anniversary of 1995's NOLA.

That's the line of thinking Anselmo relayed prior to an all-Pantera set from his current outfit, Philip H. Anselmo and the Illegals. Asked if anything new was happening with Down, the musician extended an anniversary count while approximating the present-day activities of Down bandmates Pepper Keenan (guitar), Jimmy Bower (drums) and Patrick Bruders (bass). Watch the full interview down toward the bottom of this post.

"We do have the anniversary of NOLA coming out, and I know that we have been offered some shows," Anselmo told Metal Nexus ahead of the Illegals' performance at Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky, Sept. 27. "And that's all I know, you know? Pepper's still on tour, Crowbar's always on tour, and Eyehategod has been on tour for a long time. People ask me about it all the time."

The topic was predicated by conversation regarding Bower's status in Eyehategod, a band with which Anselmo previously filled in on vocals. Keenan currently performs with Corrosion of Conformity. Bruders has spent time in Crowbar. All four formed Down in 1991, which later included guitarist Bobby Landgraf.

But Anselmo has stated in the past that neither Down nor Superjoint Ritual could perform the songs of Pantera. When asked about trotting out the classic tunes with the Illegals, the singer repeated his aim of connecting with younger members of an audience who never saw Pantera live.

"Especially doing the Pantera set ... it's an experience," Anselmo said of performing the act's catalog. "All those songs are everybody's. We all grew up on them. So it's fun to make that connection."

Down last performed live at Psycho Las Vegas 2016 after pulling out of other festival stops that same year. Anselmo has previously eyed NOLA's upcoming anniversary. In an interview with Loudwire earlier this month, the musician indicated he wished he'd done things differently in Pantera.

Philip Anselmo Talks to Metal Nexus at Louder Than Life (Sept. 27, 2019)