Jason Price of Icon Vs. Icon recently conducted an interview with Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA, SUPERJOINT RITUAL, ARSON ANTHEM). A few excerpts from the chat follow.

Icon Vs. Icon: We obviously can't talk about PANTERA without talking about Dimebag Darrell's untimely passing. It has been five years and you guys are putting together this commemorative release together. It is clear that his death has had a major impact on you. Is it getting any easier for you as time passes?

Anselmo: No. As a matter of fact, in a strange way, you kinda just took the words out of my mouth and asked the right question. No. Every year gets harder. Every year, when the dates roll by it gets harder and this past year has been the hardest year of all. I think initially, the first year, two years … [pauses] I don't know how long. It was just such a shock. It is very hard to comprehend, but I get it now. I get it now. I understand. Sure, I think about what could be. Yes, I think about Dimebag every day of my life. Every waking day of my life, man. So, no. It doesn't get any easier.

Icon Vs. Icon: You have had a love/hate relationship with the "rock media" for years? What are your thoughts on that part of the industry these days and your relationship with it?

Anselmo: Well, honestly it has a whole lot to do with my attitude. I think for many, many, many years I was a wounded animal lashing out. I was making a lot of mistakes with medication, drugs and alcohol. I was just fucking … [pauses] pardon the F-bomb … but I was just fucking out of my mind and I was really lashing out. After major back surgery, and that is a heck of a struggle, to come back from that both physically and mentally, today I am in a much better place. It is like what I give is what I get back. With the press, when I would fly off at the mouth, the press would eat it alive. Good or bad. I learned that lesson a few different times after being suckered into different confrontational things via different articles or different things in magazines and whatnot. Hence my silence after Dimebag's passing. There was no way I was ready to have a microphone shoved in my face. That is why I shut myself off for a long while. I have had interviewers, not many, I have definitely had a couple that try to wind me up with questions that are designed to do just that. But hey man, it is tough to fool the ol' fat now. You can't fuck … with me.

GUNS N' ROSES singer Axl Rose has commented on the band's appearances this past weekend at the U.K.'s Leeds and Reading festivals, the latter of which was cut short by the festival organizers due to curfew issues. In a message on Twitlonger.com, a related Twitter site where one can post messages longer than 140 characters, Rose wrote, "Don't know what it is with us or these last two shows. Takes the fun out it for everyone — fans, band and crew alike, but whatever.

"So you know, we allegedly had a deal in place pre-show with the city at least at Leeds to do a bit longer performance that was either miscommunication, someone wasn't informed, changed their mind, didn't care or was a con. Regardless, the nonsense just seems so unnecessary but without real management or industry presence is unfortunately beyond our control. We hope the fans feel they got at least what they could from us under the circumstances as for us all things considered that's the main thing. The rest is filler.

"Anyway, enough rambling. Peace, thanks for understanding and what we did manage to get done out there was a blast! The crowds and fans were amazing!! And in our opinion (not that apparently it means much) you deserved better!! Thanks again!!"

Professionally filmed video footage of the Reading performance (courtesy of the BBC) can be viewed below.

GUNS N' ROSES reportedly started its Reading festival performance at 10:30 p.m. — more than an hour later than scheduled — and was given an extra half hour to play, until roughly midnight.

In a statement to BBC News, the Reading festival organizers said, "GUNS N' ROSES wanted to 'extend' the new agreed curfew but were prevented from doing so in order to comply with the entertainment licence issued by Reading Council."