The lineup of guitarists who were under consideration for PANTERA’s commemorative performances is gradually expanding
ALTER BRIDGE guitarist, Mark Tremonti, was the initial revelation as a potential stand-in for the late Dimebag Darrell, followed closely by YouTuber Ola Englund. Now, another guitarist has emerged, and this revelation doesn’t come as a surprise given her impressive covers. YouTuber Kayla Kent disclosed in a comprehensive new YouTube video that she had caught the attention of PANTERA as a potential contributor of riffs.
Kent recounted that she discovered her candidacy to join PANTERA after encountering vocalist Phil Anselmo and Dimebag Darrell‘s longtime guitar technician, Grady Champion, backstage prior to their recent performance in Austin, TX.
“[Phil] knew who I was, and he came up and hugged me, and had super-flattering things to say about my guitar playing and he wanted a picture,” says Kent. “We got chatting for a while and then he told me something I will never forget: he told me that I was on the list of potential Pantera guitar players. I just could not believe it.”
“I asked him several times, ‘Are you joking? Are you serious?,’ and he said, ‘I’m 100 percent serious. I don’t bullshit. We actually considered you. After that interaction I went up to Grady and Steve [Murillo, Zakk Wylde‘s guitar tech] and was like, ‘Is he bullshitting me? Does he just tell everybody that?’ and they were like, ‘He’s not known to bullshit people in private like that.’ Coming from Phil, who is spearheading the new Pantera thing, obviously it means a lot to me that he said that.”
You can check out a few of Kayla Kent‘s videos below which seem to make it abundantly clear that she possesses more than enough skill to fulfill the role.
PANTERA‘s current lineup in 2023 features two surviving members from the band’s seminal formation, namely Anselmo and Rex Brown on bass. They are joined by accomplished guitarist Zakk Wylde, notable for his roles in OZZY OSBOURNE and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, as well as skilled drummer Charlie Benante from ANTHRAX.
The formidable combination of Anselmo, Brown, Wylde, and Benante is headlining a series of prominent music festivals spanning South America, Asia, North America, and Europe. Additionally, they are organizing their own headline concerts. A highlight of their ventures includes providing support for the legendary METALLICA throughout an expansive North American stadium tour scheduled for both 2023 and 2024.
