Phil Anselmo Says Rex Brown Is Still Down

Down recently weighed in on the switch from LPs to EPs (read Tard's post here), and now frontman Phil Anselmo has urged fans to send good thoughts to bassist Rex Brown, saying he needs "positive thoughts sent his way while he deals with some personal demons."

According to rocknewsdesk.com, "Brown’s status with the band remains in doubt, with his place filled on their current tour by Crowbar’s Patrick Bruders. Guitarist Pepper Keenan recently said: “He’s not out of the band but he’s not playing with us live,” and suggested he’d been issued with an ultimatum. But Brown denied that, although he admitted: “We’re having a little marital spat – I’m in the doghouse.”

Now Anselmo has called for fans to show support for Brown. He says: “To put it kindly, Rex needs to address some personal things in his life.

“When he addresses the extremity of these things, it’s going to take him away from music and touring and stuff like that.

“We all support him. We love him, we’re still very close to him and we speak with him all the time. I suggest everyone who has any emotion at all about Rex just give good thoughts to him.

“He needs it. We still support him and we wish the best for him.”

Anselmo says of Bruders: “Pat’s an underrated played. I saw him with Crowbar and I thought, ‘This motherf.......r plays tight.’ Down has never had a bass player who played with just his fingers. He’s got great feel and he’s solid as a rock.”

Down guitarist Kirk Windstein recently explained the band had decided to favour EP released over album releases in the future and would modify their touring format to suit. Brown is currently working with new band Kill Devil Hill, which also includes former Heaven and Hell drummer Vinny Appice.