As previously reported, guitarist Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Sabbath), and drummer Charlie Benante (Anthrax), will be joining Pantera bandmembers Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown, on a reunion/tribute tour.
Wylde recently discussed his participation while speaking to Matt Pinfield and Jose Mangin of Danny Wimmer Presents at this weekend’s Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio. He said (as transcribed by blabbermouth.net), “When Vinnie [Paul Abbott] was still alive, when the fellows were all talking about doing it, I just always told ’em, I said, ‘Of course I would… If you asked me, why would I not do it? I’m gonna honor [Darrell] Dime[bag] Abbott .’ It could be like Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell asking Eric Clapton if he would go out and honor Jimi [Hendrix] and Eric playing Jimi’s stuff and singing Jimi’s songs and they’re going out as the ‘Jimi Hendrix celebration.’ And he’s gonna honor his buddy and he’s gonna play his songs. I think it’s a beautiful thing. It’s like when we do the Dimebash [events in honor of Dimebag], it’s a celebration of Dime’s greatness. It’s a Pantera celebration — that’s what it is… You’re celebrating Vinnie and Dime’s greatness and you’re celebrating all the mountains that Pantera conquered and crushed.”
He continued, “”Obviously, it’s not Pantera. Pantera is those four guys — it’s Phil, Rex, Dime and Vinnie. But it’s just like when [Led] Zeppelin went out with Jason Bonham [son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham] playing, it was phenomenal. It told Jason, I was just, like, ‘Dude, you crushed it, man.’ It’s a great thing just to hear them play that music again.”
Wylde added, “I’m beyond honored to be a part of it.”
Here the entire interview, below.
For more details about this tour, please go here.
One Response
Zakk is not only a top notch musician, he is also an even better person. Although there are many guitarists who can play Pantera’s material, for a tour like this, Zakk is the only one who should be playing. So I’m glad Rexy agreed to it since he made a previous comment that Zakk would not be involved. I’m not sure why Rex would say something like that unless it was to throw everyone off or piss Rita off. Who knows man. I’m not going to go to any of these shows but I am curious to see how it sounds when YouTube videos start popping up.