With the live return of Pantera imminent, there’s no shortage of takes on the decision to reunite the Texan groove metal chart-toppers. Vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist/vocalist Rex Brown have opted to bring the band back out on the road for the first time since 2001, despite the band originally ending in a very bitter breakup.
With guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott and drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott both having passed away, their friends Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne) and Charlie Benante (Anthrax) were enlisted as their respective replacements for this live return.
Ahead of tomorrow’s (December 02nd) big show back, Benante was asked about the prospect of this incarnation of Pantera potentially working on new music together. Speaking to Brave Words on that, Benante replied:
“Oh man… who knows? Creatively, if we are just flowing and getting going, and things are starting to be really good, musically speaking, you never know what could happen. I’ve got tons of riffs. But we’re putting the cart before the horse. I like the positivity there, but I don’t know how people would react to that either at this point. I think first, let’s get out there and establish that we can play. I’m always open to the future.”
Last night the estate of Vinnie Paul issued this statement regarding the return of Pantera. Notably that estate stopped short of calling it a ‘reunion’, instead opting to label it a celebration of the band and their fallen bandmates.
Pantera‘s current live schedule runs as follows:
12/02 Toluca, MEX – Foro Pegaso (‘Hell & Heaven Metal Fest‘)
12/06 Monterrey, MEX – Monterrey Metal Fest
12/09 Bogotá, COL – Knotfest Colombia
12/11 Santiago, CHL – Knotfest Chile
12/12 Santiago, CHL – Movistar Arena
12/15 São Paulo, BRA – Vibra São Paulo (feat. Judas Priest)
12/18 São Paulo, BRA – Knotfest Brazil
05/26 Sofia, BUL – Armeets Arena
05/27 Bucharest, ROM – Metalhead Meeting Open Air Festival
05/30 Budapest, HUN – Barba Negra
05/31 Vienna, AUT – Gasometer
06/02-04 Nürburg, GER – Rock am Ring
06/02-04 Nuremberg, GER – Rock im Park
06/05 Lodz, POL – Atlas Arena
06/08-10 Hyvinkaa, FIN – Rock Fest
06/10 Solvesborg, SWE – Sweden Rock Festival
06/12 Prague, CZE – O2 Arena
06/13 Berlin, GER – Verti Music Hall
06/15 Copenhagen, DEN – Copenhell
06/21 Hamburg, GER – Edel Optics
06/22-24 Oslo, NOR – Tons Of Rock
07/02 Bologna, ITA – The Return Of The Gods Festival
08/04 East Rutherford, NJ – Metlife Stadium (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
08/11 Montreal, QC – Stade Olympique (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
08/18 Arlington, TX – AT&T Stadium (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
08/25 Los Angeles, CA – Sofi Stadium (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
09/01 Phoenix, AZ – State Farm Stadium (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
11/03 St. Louis, MO – The Dome at America’s Center (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
11/10 Detroit, MI – Ford Field (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
2024:
08/02 Foxborough, MA – Gillette Stadium (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
08/09 Chicago, IL – Soldier Field (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
08/16 Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Bank Stadium (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
08/23 Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
08/30 Seattle, WA – Lumen Field (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
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