Former SEPULTURA and current SOULFLY frontman Max Cavalera supports the current PANTERA tour
The latest formation of the iconic band features surviving PANTERA members Phil Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) along with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) who will be touring extensively throughout 2023 and 2024.
Aside from headlining a number of major festivals across South America, Asia, North America and Europe and playing some of their own headline concerts, PANTERA is also set to support METALLICA on their massive “M72” North American stadium tour.
Max discussed his views on the PANTERA comeback tour in a recent interview with the “Appetite For Distortion” podcast, saying (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I think it’s cool that they’re doing that. I do something very similar with my brother, where we go out and we play a lot of SEPULTURA albums that the fans really love it and they never got the chance to see it, for one reason or another. And they get to see it with the real drums and the real vocals and the real guitar. So it’s the closest you get to the real thing. And PANTERA is the same thing.
“Yeah, I’m friends with all of those guys [in PANTERA],” he continued. “And I’ve been friends with Phil for many years. I actually thanked him for letting me borrow his guitar player. Mike DeLeon is jamming with us [in SOULFLY]. He plays with [PHILIP H. ANSELMO & THE] ILLEGALS, with Phil Anselmo, for many, many years. So I thanked Phil for letting me borrow his guitar player.”
Touching again on the new PANTERA lineup and tour, Max said: “Yeah, I think it’s cool, especially the generation that never got to see it. I was there. I got to see it from the side of the stage every night. It was great… But I’m thinking about people that never got to see it, never got to experience that. For sure, go see it. It’s not the original thing, but it’s as close you can get from the original thing. It’s fucking cool. The music is so powerful, it’s so good, it’s so cool that it will get through to the people. And I feel that way when I do those things with my brother. When we play those old songs, it connects to the whole audience. And it’s a huge tribute.
“It sucks that Dimebag and Vinnie are no longer here, but at the same time, especially if you’re a young kid and you grew up loving PANTERA and never got to see it, for sure, go see it, man,” he added. “Just be a part of it. It’s a unique experience.”
You can check out the full interview below courtesy of the “Appetite For Distortion” podcast.