HELLYEAH and MUDVAYNE singer Chad Gray says Vinnie Paul never wanted a PANTERA reunion
Chad Gray, renowned as the frontman of MUDVAYNE and a former member of HELLYEAH alongside the late Vinnie Paul Abbott, has shared his thoughts on the recent collaboration between PANTERA‘s surviving members Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown, along with guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante. This formidable lineup has embarked on a global tour under the esteemed PANTERA banner.
With Anselmo, Brown, Wylde, and Benante at the helm, the collective is headlining prestigious festivals across North America, South America, and Europe, while also treating fans to electrifying headline concerts. Additionally, they’re slated to join forces with metal giants METALLICA for an epic stadium tour in 2024.
Gray discussed his views on the PANTERA returned during a recent appearance on The Jesea Lee Show. He said in part (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I know what it is, and I know that some levels of the intention are true and pure, but I also know that from sitting in on a million fucking interviews with Vinnie Paul and him and I interviewing together and shit, and the whole time, basically, that [PANTERA reunion] wasn’t happening.
“And there was always some clown interviewer [who] apparently was just setting himself up for failure, he’d be, like, ‘So what’s the deal with all the mutterings we’re hearing about the PANTERA reunion with Zakk,’ and Vinnie would literally go, ‘My brother’s dead.’ It’s all he would say. That’s all he would fucking say. And they wouldn’t say another fucking word. And that’s where it was. And that’s the way Vinnie thought about it.
“PANTERA was done ’cause his brother was dead. So when I hear that and I hear how passionately he said that, and I know how much he meant it… He didn’t care. Vinnie didn’t need the fucking money. Vinnie‘s whole heart was in HELLYEAH. He loved HELLYEAH so fucking much. It was such an honor to be able to play in that band with him and have him literally bleed for that band. It was everything to him, and he didn’t care about PANTERA anymore.”
Gray went on to say that he understands why so many PANTERA fans are excited to be able to see the band’s classic songs performed live.
“I’ve talked to so many people about it, and honestly, I think that the general consensus is that people are loving to fucking be standing on that floor again and listening and having them fucking, no matter how they sound, fucking blazing into those fucking songs and playing that setlist,” Chad said. “That setlist is mean as fuck. That setlist is all my favorite shit.”
Asked if he has had a chance to see the reformed PANTERA perform live yet, Gray said: “I haven’t seen it, no. But, dude, I saw PANTERA 14 times as [the classic] PANTERA. The first time I saw them, they were basically still [touring in support of the] ‘Cowboys From Hell’ [album]. And then I saw them 13 more times from then to [2000’s] ‘Reinventing [The Steel]’.”
He added: “The PANTERA thing, to me, it’s so hard for me to process, because I get it. I get it. I was a fucking massive PANTERA fan. And I understand what standing on that floor means too, because if you’re standing on that floor, chances are you’re probably a little long in the tooth.
“Not that there aren’t those young kids that never saw ’em, ’cause I guarantee you there’s a lot of ’em or whatever, but there’s something… The fountain of youth is heavy metal — it’s like a fountain of youth. You go stand on that fucking floor and you’re standing there and you’re looking at the PANTERA backdrop and they fucking walk out and they tear into ‘Strength Beyond Strength’ or whatever, dude, guess what? You’re not fucking 40-something, you’re not 50-something, you’re 18 years old again, dude, and you’re 18 years old again for that night.”
Elaborating on why it has been difficult for him to embrace the PANTERA comeback, Chad said: ”I was best friends with one of the fucking men that did it, that made that band happen and stuff like that. And he was never behind it, man. He was just never behind it. So it’s hard, for me to… ’cause I have a lot of fucking respect for Vinnie Paul. I really do. And I have a lot of respect for Dimebag Darrell.
“And it’s cool — let it be the tribute thing or whatever, but really question how much longer it goes or what else happens with it. I would just like to make sure that we’re giving love and respect to those two fallen brothers, man, because they were a really, really fucking big part of music, man. It seems like kind of a cheat that they’re not here to be a part of it, something that they built with their own hands.”
Gray clarified that he has “nothing but love for Zakk. And Charlie‘s a fucking tremendous talent. And I think that where they’re doing it from the place is pure — for those two,” he said. “Those are big fucking shoes to fill, but they’re both fucking phenomenal players and they’re both great people. So I’ve got nothing but really good things to say, but it’s hard for me because Vinnie was my bro and I know how he felt about it. And he didn’t have a say, so it’s hard.”