Most metal fans thought that with the deaths of brothers “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul, that any chance of a Pantera reunion and/or tour was over. The band split up in 2003, and Abbott and Paul formed Damageplan. Abbott was tragically shot and killed onstage in 2004, and Paul died of heart complications in 2018.
However, according to Billboard, Pantera’s surviving members, vocalist Philip Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown, have signed with Artist Group International and will perform a reunion tour in 2023. “We are thrilled to be working with such an iconic band and bringing their music back to the fans,” said Artist Group agent Peter Pappalardo.
Anselmo had said previously he would entertain a tour celebrating the music of Pantera. The singer has been performing recently with his solo band, The Illegals. He told Inside With Paulo Baron: “I think Rex sees what I’m doing with the Illegals and he likes it. He’s just, like, ‘That’s great,’ because the more I keep Pantera alive, it’s good for him too. I think Rex is very happy doing his solo records and stuff, and I think he’s been in the studio; he’s got his own thing going on,” he continued. And I think right now in life, we are content to do things this way.If Rex and I had a show to play, or we were ever gonna be on stage again together, I would welcome it with open arms. I love Rex. And he’d be the same way. We’re brothers forever. So playing on stage together, or doing some shows together, is not out of the question. It could happen.”
Brown said he was also open to the idea. He told Eonmusic in 2021, “But if you don’t have the other guys in the band, it’s not going to sound the same. If we were ever to do something like that, it would have to be spot-on, or I wouldn’t do it. It would be a tribute.”
It has long been rumored by metal fans that guitarist Zakk Wylde might be up for the guitar duties, but Brown shot that down. “It wouldn’t be Zakk Wylde, I guarantee you that. I’ve just put it out there so we can get on past it.” Abbott’s longtime girlfriend Rita Haney said she would love to see Wylde be a part of a Pantera tribute/reunion, but Brown again shot that down on Twitter: “I wanna make sure that ppl understand what I’m about to tweet.. It’s not up to Rita to say what will happen, only what Philip & I say…I’m in!! Dig?!?!?”
Haney also told “The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show”: “I don’t think there could be a Pantera reunion, but I think that his two remaining brothers, Rex and Philip, if they wanted to honor Darrell and Vinnie, as far as where I’m coming from and what I believe Darrell would believe — because he was the most forgiving person that I know — I believe that he would be honored. It’s kind of a cliché to say, but he truly would be grateful that he meant that much to them. And I think if they wanna honor their fallen brothers with a tribute, I think that that’s great. But as far as trying to say put Pantera back together, Pantera tribute, this and that, no — that’s distasteful without those other guys. But I think as a tribute, it would be a really great thing. Because I know, from a fan’s point, if I hadn’t been able to see them play or hear those songs — the songs, they mean so much to me; I can imagine [they do to] other people as well. I think it’s great that they can at least see it performed, and by people that truly love ’em. So, yeah, I think it would be a really cool thing.”
Pantera was one of the most successful metal bands of the 1990s. Their 1994 album, “Far Beyond Driven,” debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The band has sold more than 20 million albums and received four Grammy nominations. The band’s last album was 2000’s “Reinventing the Steel.”
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