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Philip Anselmo has shared his initial thoughts on Pantera’s return to the live stage, marking the first public comments about the reformed band. The lineup features Pantera’s surviving members Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass), joined by guitarist Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society) and drummer Charlie Benante (Anthrax). This reformed Pantera is headlining major festivals globally, staging headline concerts, and supporting Metallica on a massive stadium tour in 2023 and 2024.
The reunion tour was first reported in July 2022, with the lineup receiving approval from the estates of Pantera’s founders, drummer Vincent “Vinnie Paul” Abbott and guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, as well as Rex Brown.
Anselmo and Brown discussed Pantera’s return during an episode of “The Metallica Report,” a podcast offering insider updates on Metallica. Anselmo expressed how empowering and beautiful the experience is, highlighting the love from the audience. He contrasted the present with their earlier days when they were at war and angry on stage. Anselmo emphasized the relief of being able to concentrate on singing without the physical toll.
They also praised Charlie Benante and Zakk Wylde for their enthusiasm and individual legacies. Rex mentioned Charlie’s uncanny ability to play Vinnie’s parts, bringing a tear of joy. Anselmo added that the low end sounds so Pantera, stating it’s “freaking me out.”
It’s empowering. It is incredibly beautiful, and you feel so much love when you’re up there. And if you take it in, it’s a great feeling, man. These days, man, that’s where me and Rex, you know, we get to dig the shows more.”
He continued: “When we were younger, we were at war and when we were on stage; we were just angry and at war, man. Now it’s — the songs are there. I can concentrate on singing the fricking songs, number one. Geez, that’s a relief for me, man. I don’t have to break my fricking body in part anymore.
“Them two dudes, so enthusiastic. And they got their damn thing and they got their own damn legacy, both of them, without us. It’s an honor to play with them. They’re the nicest frickin guys in the world, man. I’m just so… [Laughs] Zakk, he’s a crack-up, man. He’s a sweetheart. And fricking Charlie, we’ve known Charlie since ’87, man. It’s a long time.”
Rex chimed in: “The way [Charlie] plays Vinnie‘s parts is uncanny. I don’t think there’s any drummer out there that could play the way that Vinnie did. I would close my eyes, because I was trying to get tight, and sometimes if I close my eyes, I can hear a little better; I think I can. And there’d be a tear of joy just coming down, because that was so close to what Vinnie and I used to play. So you have the foundation.”
Philip concurred, saying: “The low end sounds so Pantera, man. It’s freaking me out.
Only thing I can say is, man, I know for a damn fact Vince and Dime would want us to do this, hands down. They would want the Pantera brand or the legacy to go on. And I don’t know what you believe in, but sometimes, you know, you would like to think that them old fellas are looking down on us, giving us the thumbs-up.”
When asked about Pantera in 2023 embodying Vinnie Paul and Dimebag’s spirit, Anselmo expressed confidence that Vince and Dime would want the Pantera legacy to continue. He speculated that the old members might be looking down on them, giving a thumbs-up to the reunion.
