PANTERA has posted a video message from singer Philip Anselmo, which was filmed during the band’s rehearsals for their February 2024 North American tour
In the clip, Anselmo says: “Youngsters have come out in droves to these PANTERA shows, and it has lit and ignited a fuse and a fire in me, and I just wanna play these fucking shows the best fucking way we goddamn know how. And I’m looking forward to it.”
Reforming with surviving PANTERA members Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass), alongside guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX), the band is set to headline major festivals across North America, South America, and Europe. Additionally, they will host headline concerts and join METALLICA on an extensive stadium tour in 2024.
Initial reports in July 2022 hinted at Anselmo and Brown joining forces with Wylde and Benante for a global tour under the PANTERA name. Apparently the group’s new lineup has received approval from the estates of the band’s founders, drummer Vincent “Vinnie Paul” Abbott and guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, as well as Rex Brown, who previously indicated Wylde‘s non-involvement in a PANTERA reunion. The shift in Brown‘s stance remains unclear.
We recently unearthed some audio of a 2013 interview Loaded Radio did backstage at Gigantour with drummer Vinnie Paul.
In the talk, Vinnie is asked outright about the then rumors of a PANTERA tour or project featuring guitarist Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) stepping in for his late brother “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott. Vinnie replied: “It’s always been a rumor, I mean, I see Zakk everyday and we never even talk about it.”
When Vinnie was asked further about the ongoing speculation of a “reunion” of the band, he replied: “People are always saying ‘Man, when is the PANTERA reunion gonna happen?’ Well, there’s no reunion without ‘Dimebag’ Darrell and I don’t wanna ruin his legacy or anything the band had ya know? And if ya live in the past, you have no future. That’s why I wanna keep moving forward with my life. That’s why I’m really dedicated and love playing in HELLYEAH and I really enjoy being a part of the band.”
PANTERA was co-founded by Vinnie Paul and Dimebag. Following the band’s dissolution in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. Tragically, on December 8, 2004, during a performance with DAMAGEPLAN in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was fatally shot on stage by a disturbed schizophrenic.
In 2011, Dimebag‘s longtime girlfriend, Rita Haney, urged Vinnie and Philip to reconcile in honor of Dimebag. Vinnie and Anselmo, who hadn’t communicated since the band’s split in 2003, had an increasingly strained relationship, exacerbated when Vinnie suggested that Anselmo‘s remarks about Dimebag may have influenced the tragic incident just weeks prior.