Phil Anselmo Says He Recently Talked To Zakk Wylde About Pantera “Reunion”
Phil Anselmo (Down/ex-Pantera, etc.) has told The Village Voice that he talked to Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, etc.) about a possible Pantera reunion (with Wylde replacing the late Dimebag Darrell Abbott) as recently as two weeks ago.
He did however later clarify that the potential reunion of sorts is not entirely realistic, given his estranged relationship with band drummer Vince Abbott.
The following exchange took place in regards to that:
“There have been rumors floating around of a Pantera “reunion” with Zakk Wylde. Is that real, and would that include you?
Well, it would better damn well fuckin’ include me, or it wouldn’t be Pantera. I talked to Zakk about two weeks ago, and he’s very open for it. He’s got an open mind about it. But, truth be told, Vince [Abbott] has got a grudge against me that is really unfounded. And, honestly, I’ve always had a wide-open door when it comes to Vince.
If it takes me standin’ there and lettin’ that little guy punch me in the fuckin’ face repeatedly, over and over and over, til his hands were tired of hittin’ my rock-hard fuckin’ head, as long as we could sit down and talk afterwards, I’m all for it, man.
Would there be any issue with someone else playing Dimebag’s guitar parts?
Well, now, I didn’t say that the Pantera thing is a realistic thing. I don’t think that’s the important thing. I think what the important thing is, what Zakk and I discussed, is just Vince actually dropping his guard and realizing there is no treachery afoot.”
COMMENTS
Huh? I remember Vinnie also mentioning this awhile back. I would never get my hopes up for this, like ever. Just leave the legacy alone. BUT, just like anything else in the world: money fucking talks. Hey shit I would attend a concert if a tour was announced, but you know it just wouldn’t be the same. RIP Dime.
No Dime=No Pantera.
Stop fucking with the legacy.
If you never saw them and you never will. Deal with it, it’s over.
I have always loved Pantera. Listened to them like crazy when I was growing up. That being said, it saddens me that Phil is such a “tough guy.” His constant posturing is really irritating. He’s 40something, yet he raises his chin and grimaces like he’s in middle school, constantly talking about “respect” and all. I guess it makes sense, given Pantera’s lyrical content, but I just wish the guy would lighten up a bit and get real. Also, Pantera is not Pantera without Dime, so if there was a reunion without Dime AND Phil that wouldn’t be Pantera. It would HELLYEAH, and it would suck.
If any of you are wondering what I mean by Phil’s attitude, please see Exhibit A: “If it takes me standin’ there and lettin’ that little guy punch me in the fuckin’ face repeatedly, over and over and over, til his hands were tired of hittin’ my rock-hard fuckin’ head…”
I think that’s his way of saying he’ll take any abuse he has coming from Vinnie if it means putting the feud to rest. Seems pretty decent to me, actually.
Then again, I know how to read.
Sounds disrespectful to me…
Vince = little guy
Me = rock-hard fuckin’ head
You’d almost think he would’ve written a song about respect or something like it while in Pantera
correction: “having said that” – a common mistake made by many – I agree with you on PA, “easy Hercules”
“Well, it would better damn well fuckin’ include me, or it wouldn’t be Pantera.”
This goes with Dimebag, too buddy.
That was the first thing I thought when I read that, then proceeded to ignore the rest. Obviously Phil would be included in any “reunion”, but Dimebag was more Pantera than Phil, and an original member to boot.
dimebag was more pantera than Phil… wtf are we walkin about here. what trivial bullshit.
Dime could play his ass off, obviously, but…if you listen to non-Pantera projects from the four members of Pantera, EVERYONE besides Phil have exclusively been part of completely awful nu metal or radio bro rock sorts of projects. Phil’s other projects? The usually groove HARD, which is part of what made Pantera so damn good…yeah, they were supremely heavy, but EVERYTHING would groove so damn much.
Makes me think that Phil’s role in the band is something along the lines of Ozzy, where he outlines where and how things go, and why other musicians can just go on in and it still sounds overall like an Ozzy song or record…Pantera is probably heavily shaped by Phil’s clear need to have things groove…which would make Phil ULTRA important to the band, and equal importance to everyone else in the band.
That all said, I DO think Phil is an asshole, I WOULD hate it if Pantera wrote a new record with Zakk Wylde or anyone else on guitar, and I would LOVE to see a one off tour of Pantera with Zakk.
Obviously it wouldn’t be the same without Dime, but considering that he and Zakk were pretty inseparable as far as friends in music go, I’d say it’d be a fitting replacement and give it an overall thumbs up.
Just don’t go galavanting around like this will be a new Pantera incarnation and talk about releasing albums and such. Leave the legacy alone in that regard. But for fans of the band, who haven’t had a great metal show to attend in something like 10 years or so, I’d be 1st in line to scoop up some tickets.
You all would be too.
Reforming Pantera with Zakk Wylde in place of Dimebag Darrell to do some shows or tour in honor of Dimebag’s memory? Good move, legacy untarnished, as long as it’s clear this is in honor of Dime.
Reforming Panreta with Zakk Wylde in place of Dimebag Darrell to actually make new recordings and put out albums? BAD MOVE, DON’T FUCKING DO IT, LEGACY IS TARNISHED.
Some shows to give something back to the fans isn’t bad. But moving forward without Dimebag as if the band is back together and making new music is not cool.
Didn’t mean to type “Panreta” the second time; that said, it’s kind of fitting; if they try to make new music without Dime you might as well call it Panreta because it sure as fuck isn’t Pantera.
It’s not like Dimebag is just chilling in LA or something. He’s gone, there’s obviously no way he could be a part of this, so I feel all comments about their “legacy” being ruined are pretty dumb. If they were to put out new stuff, it doesn’t make their existing catalog worse, it just adds to it. Let’s also not forget that Pantera was originally a glam rock band, so get off your high horse and hope to hell that these guys go through with it in some fashion. I’m hoping in all sorts – let’s see a tour and a new album to see what the old guys have left in ‘em. Plus it’d mean Mudvayne could get back to touring…
I think Pepper Keenan would be the best choice to play guitar. Not just because he’s in Down, but because he has that natural southern feel when he plays, like Dime did. Just listen to ‘Deliverance’ by Corrosion of Conformity. That album still kicks ass. And not only that, but he and Dime were also good buddies. If it were really up to me, though I’d say no reunion. Pantera was, without a doubt, one of the best. Let this great legacy rest in peace.
Zakk may have a tendency to take liberties with other people’s material but he’s also the only guy who knows that material well enough to have confidence he wouldn’t butcher it, particularly the solos. Watch Kerry King on the Metal Masters clinic…he was atrocious on Dime’s solos. Zakk’s one of the few that has the ability to hit those note for note that’s familiar enough with that style. I also think he has a big enough respect for Dime’s playing to not add his own things to the riffs or solos considering he’s not a replacement, just honoring the man’s legacy.
I’d rather have Down do Pantera covers for half their set, I fucking hate Vinnie Paul, he should take no part in a Pantera reunion.
What about Rex? Is he even clean enough to do this? Let’s not lose sight of the fact that Phil kicked Rex out of Down because of substance abuse…if Phil Anselmo tells you that you have substance abuse problems then…well you get the idea. It’d be fun to see Pantera in some fashion or another back out there. Heck it’d just be nice to see them all get along again. Vinnie get over it. Phil was a drug addicted dick, but HE didn’t kill your brother. Can’t we all just get along? If Van Halen could pull it off then….ummm….nevermind.
The egos between Roth and EVH are well beyond anything Phil and Vinnie could ever dumb themselves down to.
Whether your agree or not about having Zack in the band is a moot point. Phil’s “pantera” voice is gone. I think they can still make one hell of a record with Zack but I have reservations about Phils ability to replicate his vocals of past albums.
His vocal changes work in Down for me (though many dislike) but in Pantera…it better be the same as it ever was or I don’t want it.
I’ve been hoping this would happen for years. I want to hear Pantera songs live again. Zakk and Dime were great friends, and this would be a fitting tribute. Of course they should not make a record. But a few tours? What’s not to love?
Zakk is already practicing Dime’s solos with his teeth.
That being said, I would love to see this if Phil’s vocals can still handle it and from what I have heard lately I doubted they can. Nice thought though.
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