In a brand new interview with Nikki Blakk of the San Francisco Bay Space radio station 107.7 The Bone, Zakk Wylde spoke about his ongoing touring actions with a reformed model of PANTERA, additionally that includes surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass),alongside Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) on drums. The lineup has reportedly been given a inexperienced gentle by the estates of PANTERA‘s founders, drummer Vincent “Vinnie Paul” Abbott and guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott.
Requested how the PANTERA “celebration” tour will proceed within the subsequent couple of years and whether or not there’s a likelihood of a dwell album and even presumably new music, Zakk mentioned (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “Effectively, it is all as much as Phillip and Rex. It is actual easy-peasy. We simply hold round, and if Rex is simply, like, ‘Hey, fellas, let’s simply put this [song] within the set,’ or no matter, or Phil‘s, like, ‘Yo, let’s do that,’ or no matter, then me and Charlie study it after which we’ll put it within the set. So, that is the place it is at. But it surely’s an awesome hold, as a result of everyone within the crew and everyone on the market, we have all recognized one another for years. Even with the crew folks, it is simply, like, whether or not they’ve been out with Ozzy [Osbourne] once I was rolling on the ‘No Extra Tears’ tour, everyone is aware of everyone. So, it actually is sort of a big household vibe out on the factor. It is a good time, for positive. And seeing so many individuals taking a visit down reminiscence lane, the PANTERA trustworthy that noticed PANTERA again once they have been enjoying golf equipment in entrance of 5 folks. So you might have that, you might have the PANTERA trustworthy taking a visit down reminiscence lane, after which you might have all the brand new children, which is superb, ‘trigger Phil, each evening, he is simply, like, ‘How many individuals noticed PANTERA again within the day?’ And like I mentioned, you might have the PANTERA trustworthy, after which when he goes, how many individuals that is their first time listening to these songs dwell. It truly is mind-blowing, what number of younger children, ‘trigger they by no means… When the band ended, when the fellows took a break, they’d hear in regards to the legend of PANTERA, just like the legend of [BLACK] SABBATH, and I by no means received an opportunity to see [the original] SABBATH, so once they received again collectively, it was simply, like, ‘Wow. Now I can go see him with Ozzy and Invoice [Ward] and Tony [Iommi] and Geezer [Butler],’ again once they did Ozzfest. That was an enormous, large deal for everyone that by no means received an opportunity to see it since you have been too younger. So, I feel it is a wonderful factor, and conserving Dime and Vinnie‘s, what they created with Philip and Rex, this superb factor. So, I feel it is an awesome factor. It is stunning.”
When Blakk famous that it seems like PANTERA is “a fluid factor” and that he’s “all on board” with nevertheless it evolves within the coming years, Zakk concurred. “Yeah,” he mentioned. “For 2025, we’re rolling proper now. It is simply gonna be all PANTERA all 12 months lengthy. So, that is what is going on on proper now. Go over to Europe, then we’ll be again within the States after which we’ve a bunch of METALLICA exhibits. So, yeah, it is superior.”
This previous August, Zakk was requested by “The Wealthy Shertenlieb Present” on Boston’s 100.7 WZLX radio station what his fast thought was when he was first approached about collaborating within the PANTERA tour. Zakk mentioned: “Phil known as me up and he was, like, ‘Zakk, would you wanna…?’ I’ve all the time instructed Rex and Phil in the event that they ever needed to do it, since day one, when [Vinnie Paul] was nonetheless alive, and they might all the time discuss, there’d be rumblings of speaking about it, it was, like, ‘Guys, no matter you wanna do, you recognize I am all the time right here. Allied forces. I am all the time right here to help you.’ So, after which it by no means took place, however I used to be identical to all the time… I bear in mind I used to be telling [JUDAS PRIEST‘s] Rob Halford, ‘trigger Rob noticed one of many [recent PANTERA] exhibits, he was like, ‘Zakk, it is actually a wonderful factor you guys are doing.’ And I used to be telling Rob, I mentioned, it was by no means a matter of if I am going to do it, it is a matter of once I’ll [do it], you recognize what I imply? It is identical to a type of issues along with your dad and mom. In the event that they ask you to come back dwelling, you do not say… you simply go dwelling. In the event that they need assistance round the home, you simply do it. So, yeah, to me it is the identical factor.”
Concerning the problem of reproducing Dimebag‘s elements in a dwell state of affairs, Zakk mentioned: “I all the time inform everyone, with Dime‘s, his legacy and his greatness. apart of his nice chops and his approach and all the pieces like that, it was a Dime‘s writing. The place [BLACK SABBATH‘s Tony Iommi created a whole genre, pretty much with PANTERA, it’s its own entire genre. So I always put Dime, status-wise, just like Tony Iommi. As far as creating a genre, they’re the benchmark of that music, for LAMB OF GOD and all those guys that play in that genre. They’re THE BEATLES, THE [ROLLING] STONES, the SABBATH, the [LED] ZEPPELIN of that style.”
Again in February, Zakk instructed SiriusXM‘s “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk” about the potential for the reformed lineup of PANTERA making new music: “I feel you would need to name it one thing else. You realize what I imply? PANTERA is these 4 guys [Philip, Rex, Vinnie and Dimebag]. So, yeah, you possibly can’t change that.”
Pressed about whether or not he would wish to do it underneath an altered identify slightly than calling it PANTERA, Wylde mentioned: “Yeah. If that was ever a bridge we crossed, we would have to attend till we get there. However proper now, it is simply the 4 of us celebrating what the fellas [from the classic lineup] created.”
Zakk went on to say that he was open to creating new music with Anselmo, Brown and Benante, supplied that it was offered in a different way than simply PANTERA. “Yeah, in fact,” he mentioned. “I imply, how may you name it PANTERA except it was simply pre-existing materials and we have been gonna report it — stuff that was in demo state or no matter, and it’s songs that the fellows wrote. However so far as new songs, it must be — you’d name it one thing else.”
Earlier in August, Wylde was requested by The Mistress Carrie Podcast what he would have mentioned a couple of years in the past if someone had instructed him that he would at some point be the guitarist in PANTERA. Zakk responded: “Effectively, [it’s] the PANTERA celebration. It isn’t PANTERA. PANTERA is Dime, Vinnie, Phil and Rex. In order that’s PANTERA. However no, it is a wonderful factor honoring the fellows each evening. All people’s having a blast. Everybody that comes all the way down to the exhibits both — you might have the PANTERA trustworthy taking a visit down reminiscence lane, and you have all of the youthful, like Phil all the time calls it, the brand new blood. And it is superb each evening what number of… It is only a testomony to what the fellas created. As a result of we have so many younger those that have by no means seen PANTERA earlier than.”
He continued: “For me, for my state of affairs, I by no means received an opportunity to see LED ZEPPELIN. So, if ZEPPELIN received again collectively, and also you had, I imply, proper now with Jason [Bonham] enjoying the drums, ‘trigger I by no means received an opportunity to see it. So, it is that sort of state of affairs. So it is all of the youthful children developing listening to that their older brothers listened to it or their dad or no matter, and now they’re on the gig to listen to this music dwell. So, to me, it is really a wonderful factor each evening we play honoring the fellows.”
Concerning how his opinion of Dimebag as a guitar participant has modified because of having to dissect his elements, Zakk mentioned: “I already knew my buddy was nice. I already knew Dime was nice. However then the extra I used to be studying these things, I used to be, like, he is even higher than I ever thought. However, no, studying all of the stuff or going via truly studying the songs, it is simply, apart of Dime‘s nice approach and his chops and all the pieces like that… I imply, to me, his legacy is — I put it extra like Tony Iommi, the place what Tony created with SABBATH was mainly its personal complete style of music. So PANTERA, they’re the gold normal of that style of music, whether or not it is ‘energy groove’ or no matter, what Dime known as it. The LAMB OF GOD guys are superb, however they’re reduce from that material, that fashion of music that PANTERA solid, and all of the bands that come after that. I imply, it is simply sort of like PANTERA, what PANTERA created of their style is identical factor as THE BEATLES, THE STONES, ZEPPELIN and SABBATH, all of the bands that we love, the place they’re the benchmark of that fashion of music. So, yeah, that is why I all the time inform everyone, it is not a lot how briskly Dime was and all the pieces like that; it is what he wrote. And that is his legacy, to me.”
Requested what it is prefer to play the opening riff of the basic PANTERA tune “Stroll” each evening, Wylde mentioned: “It is really superb. Phil all the time says it each evening. Once we’re, doing the exhibits with METALLICA, he goes, ‘I feel lots of people do not know who we’re, do not know who PANTERA is, he goes, ‘however as soon as that riff begins. They go, ‘Oh, yeah, I’ve heard this tune earlier than.’ It is an iconic riff, for positive. Completely.”
In a separate interview, Zakk was requested by Joshua Toomey of the Speak Toomey podcast what goes via his thoughts when the curtain falls down as he and his bandmates launch into the opening riff of “A New Degree” each evening, Zakk mentioned: “Oh, it is superior. I really like each second of the present — from the start to the tip, man. Clearly, after we’re doing ‘Floods’, I get fairly choked up doing that one, particularly the tip bit, the outro of Dime‘s, ‘trigger it is simply me on my own. I do not see the video screens which can be behind me, however, clearly, once I’ve seen the footage of it, it is simply, like, ‘Wow.’ There’s simply just about not a dry eye in the home on that one. Yeah, I positively get choked up doing that one, after we do ‘Floods’.
“All people within the camp, everyone’s simply all nice folks,” Zakk continued. “I imply, we have all recognized one another — the fellows within the band, we have recognized one another, however so far as the entire camp and the crew, we have all recognized one another from numerous excursions and issues. So it is like one gigantic household on the market. So, I imply, the entire vibe, it is only a stunning factor.”
Concerning whether or not there have been any PANTERA songs or elements that took him longer to determine than the remainder, Zakk mentioned: “What I simply discovered actually superior was Dime‘s… I imply, the explanation why we’re nonetheless speaking about Dime‘s greatness and everyone, and all the fellows that we love, whether or not it is King Edward [Eddie Van Halen], St. Rhoads [Randy Rhoads], Jimi Hendrix, I imply, all the fellows, it is what they wrote. Apart of Dime‘s nice approach and the way superb he was and how briskly he may play and all the pieces like that, it is what he wrote, identical to with Randy and Eddie and everyone. I imply, all the fellows that we love. However Dime‘s writing, like his chord decisions and all the pieces like that, it is simply, like, ‘Oh, wow. That is positively actually cool.’ So, a number of surprising pre-choruses and issues like that. It is, like, ‘Oh, wow. I ponder what made him go there,’ like actually attention-grabbing chord decisions. However, yeah, for positive.
“Going via, studying the entire catalog and studying deeper cuts and all the pieces like that, I used to be, like, ‘Wow. This one’s fairly cool,'” he continued. “I imply, even the pre-chorus to ‘Stroll’ or simply the opening riff — a number of a number of the chord decisions would find yourself turning into… They’re dissonant, the place that is clearly what Dime‘s going for, is the dissonance, whereas against one thing could be like if it was a extra ear-pleasing chord selection, however it could sound routine, and you would simply inform Dime was going for… ‘No, that is what everyone expects us to go. So, let’s go right here. Everybody expects us to make a left flip. So, let’s make a proper.’ So, it is, like, oh, ‘Wow, that is positively attention-grabbing.’ So, yeah, that is what I discovered, studying all the fabric and all the pieces like that. So, for positive. In order that, to me, is what places Dime in that league with all the fellows we love, whether or not it is Jimi Hendrix, whether or not it is Eddie and Randy. It is his writing.”
This previous April, Zakk instructed Final Guitar about touring with the reformed PANTERA: “I really feel [Dimebag] on a regular basis. Even after we have been on the point of do the [PANTERA tour in 2022], [the early] rehearsals, and so they have been simply determining how we have been gonna do that, there’d be indicators in every single place, whether or not [it was] a license plate that may be, like, ‘333’ [three being Dimebag‘s favorite number], or I might run into like a Dimebag license plate in the course of nowhere. It was simply, like, him simply pushing this factor alongside, keen it to occur. So he is simply all the time round. Once we have been in New York, identical to indicators, after we simply did [a headlining show at] the [Madison Square] Backyard [in February 2024], my spouse Barbaranne was, like, Verify this out.’ One thing got here up and it simply reminded us of Dime, and I used to be like, ‘Wow, that is loopy.’ Or we’d look on our telephone and it could be ‘333’. It is simply these indicators in every single place. And I may see Dime simply doing it, going, ‘I hope these idiots notice it is me sending these indicators.’ [Laughs]”
The reformed PANTERA is headlining numerous main festivals throughout North America, South America and Europe and staging a few of its personal headline concert events. They’re additionally supporting METALLICA on an enormous stadium tour in 2025.
It was first reported in July 2022 that Anselmo and Brown would unite with Wylde and Benante for a world tour underneath the PANTERA banner.
Throughout a current look on “Drinks With Johnny”, the Web TV present hosted by AVENGED SEVENFOLD bassist Johnny Christ, Zakk was requested how he, Philip, Rex and Charlie all “got here collectively to resolve that this was the correct time, the correct group to pay homage to the mighty PANTERA“. The guitarist mentioned: “Effectively, BLACK LABEL [SOCIETY] and DOWN, we did some exhibits collectively in 2014, we did a tour, and it was nice. ‘Trigger I’ve recognized Phil [who also sings for DOWN] and Pepper [Keenan, DOWN guitarist] and all the fellows, and Jimmy Bower [DOWN drummer], Father Bower Energy, over there for some time. It was only a bunch of mates going out doing exhibits collectively. And we did some PANTERA stuff then, after which Father Rex got here out and we jammed ‘I am Damaged’ and stuff like that, and it was a number of enjoyable. And it is all the time been rumored for years. I simply mentioned that is all the time on the fellas. Me and Charlie are buds, and we’ll be right here to help our mates, no matter they wanna do. So when Phil known as me up at some point, he was, like, ‘Zakk, you wanna get collectively and do that? We’re interested by me, Rex and Charlie and your self, and we’ll exit and pay tribute to Dime and Vinnie.’ I used to be, like, ‘After all. I all the time mentioned I’d be there for you guys once you felt the time was proper to do it.'”
He continued: “However, yeah, we simply received collectively and did the rehearsals down in New Orleans after which we have been rolling ever since. We simply did the [Madison Square] Backyard and all the pieces like that, with LAMB OF GOD and the fellows and all the pieces like that. So it was nice. So simply searching each evening and seeing folks taking a visit down reminiscence lane, the those that have seen the unique PANTERA… When Phil says each evening, he is simply, like, ‘How many individuals, that is their first time ever seeing PANTERA?’ And all of the youthful those that by no means received an opportunity to see ’em [raise their hands]. It simply actually is a wonderful factor.
“I all the time say it each evening, after we have been enjoying the Backyard, it is identical to if Dime and Vinnie have been proper there on the aspect of the stage, I might go, ‘Take a look at what you guys created.’ So it is actually particular. I feel it is only a stunning factor each evening paying honor and tribute to Dime and Vinnie each evening, Phil and Rex and Dime and Vinnie, this factor that they created that brings so many individuals pleasure. So, I simply assume it is a wonderful factor each evening.”
Zakk beforehand mentioned his involvement with PANTERA in a February 2024 interview with Chuck Armstrong of Loudwire Nights. On the time, he mentioned: “All people in the entire camp, it is all nice folks. And it is loopy, as a result of we have recognized one another for years, however you find yourself realizing, even with the crew and all the pieces like that, all these folks you’ve got recognized for years — I imply, those that I have been with once I began with Ozzy [Osbourne] and all the pieces like that. So, it is simply a good time on the market, man, for positive. After which, clearly, celebrating Vinnie and Dime each evening, it is simply superior.
“The gorgeous factor about music is, all of the bands that we love, whether or not it is ZEPPELIN or [BLACK] SABBATH, THE ALLMAN BROTHERS or Elton John or PANTERA or no matter, everyone has their connection to that music,” he continued. “That is probably the most highly effective factor about music. I imply, you hear stuff, it simply transports you again to once you have been 13 years outdated, 14 years outdated, the place you have been and what you have been doing when that music was occurring. So, for therefore many individuals — it is superb ‘trigger Phil all the time does it at like virtually each evening, he is simply, like, ‘How many individuals noticed PANTERA again within the day?’ And everyone, clearly, you might have all of the PANTERA trustworthy. After which he goes, ‘How many individuals, that is their first time seeing PANTERA?’ It is mind-blowing. I imply, I might say it is virtually like 60-40, 70-30 generally, the place it is, like, ‘Wow. That’s superb.’
“I by no means received an opportunity to see ZEPPELIN again within the day, so to see… After I went and noticed the [Jimmy] Web page and [Robert] Plant factor with the orchestra and all the pieces, that was simply superb, as a result of I by no means received an opportunity to see them again within the day. So, simply the facility of the music, to see it dwell was simply… I noticed ’em at Brendan Byrne Enviornment [in East Rutherford, New Jersey in April 1995] after we have been engaged on [Ozzy Osbourne‘s 1995 album] ‘Ozzmosis’. I received tickets and we went all the way down to the gig that evening, and it was superb — ‘trigger I by no means I by no means received an opportunity to see it again within the day. So, it is just about the identical, ‘trigger I do know I used to be getting chills once I was watching it. So, yeah, it is a wonderful factor, man.”
Zakk was additionally requested if he could be open to engaged on new materials with PANTERA. He mentioned: “Nah, I do not assume so. Every time Phil says that and all of the youthful children are screaming and yelling, once they put the home lights on and everybody’s received their fists up within the air ‘trigger that is the primary time [they’re seeing PANTERA live], I simply take a look at like Vinnie and Dime, in the event that they have been on the aspect of the stage, and go, ‘See what you guys created.’ So it is simply, like, yeah, it is superior. It really is, man. However, no, I do not assume [the plan is] to report [as PANTERA]. I imply, it might be like if [Eric] Clapton was enjoying with [drummer] Mitch [Mitchell] and [bassist] Noel [Redding], honoring Jimi [Hendrix], they don’t seem to be gonna go in and report [and call it] THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE with Eric Clapton. [Laughs] I do not assume something like that. Clearly, if we have been ever to do something, it could be underneath a distinct identify. Like Jimmy Web page, if he was enjoying with Paul Rodgers and all the pieces, it is THE FIRM; they don’t seem to be going out as LED ZEPPELIN.”
Up till his passing in June 2018, Vinnie remained on non-speaking phrases with Anselmo, whom the drummer not directly blamed for Dimebag‘s demise.
Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. On December 8, 2004, whereas performing with DAMAGEPLAN on the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA have been stealing his ideas.
Vinnie, who was Dimebag‘s brother, and Anselmo had not spoken since PANTERA break up in 2003. However the relationship received much more acrimonious when Vinnie prompt that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print simply weeks earlier may need incited Dimebag‘s killer.
