Photo - Paul Natkin / Getty Images
Pantera have revealed that their 'reunion tour' will kick off with four shows in South America and Mexico in December.
The first of those shows will see them co-headline the Hell & Heaven Metal Fest in Otzacatipan, Mexico on December 2. The remaining three will take see them perform as a headline act at the Slipknot curated Knotfest events in Columbia, Chile and Brazil. The Knotfest events also feature Slipknot, Judas Priest, and Bring Me The Horizon in headline spots. The show line-ups and posters all feature the classic Pantera logo and no reference is made to it being a tribute performance.
The touring line-up for the somewhat controversial run of shows includes original Pantera members vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown alongside Black Label Society guitarist Zakk Wylde and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante
In an Instagram Reels post that you can see below, Pantera pays tribute to their fallen bandmates, brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul, featuring the words "For the brothers. For the fans. For legacy." The video is soundtracked by fans chanting "Pantera" followed by one of Dimebag's iconic riffs from Cowboys From Hell.
Zakk Wylde has spoken publicly about his role in the Pantera 2023 reunion tour. Wylde discussed the tour during a backstage interview at the Inckcarceration festival in Mansfield, Ohio.
Wylde shared his excitement in being included in the tour with hosts Jose Mangin and Matt Pinfield, indicating it is an honour for him to be considered worthy to temporarily fill Dimebag Darrell’s shoes and revealing that a reunion was discussed as a way to pay tribute to Dimebag before his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul also passed away.
“I said “of course, I would…if you asked me, why would I not do it? I’m going to honour Dime.”
Wylde goes on to compare the experience to that of notable acts stepping in to pay tribute to other late guitar legends in the past.
“It could be like Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell asking Eric Clapton if he would go out and honour Jimi Hendrix, and Eric playing Jim’s stuff and singing Jimi’s songs and they’re going out as the ‘Jimi Hendrix Celebration’. And he’s going to honour his body and he’s going to play his songs. I think it’s a beautiful thing. When we do the ‘Dimebash’...it’s a celebration of Dime’s greatness. It’s a Panera celebration – that’s what it is.” "It's a beautiful thing. You’re celebrating Vinnie and Dime‘s greatness and you’re celebrating all the mountains that Pantera conquered and crushed."
Wylde did go out of his way to clarify that the reunion tour is NOT in his opinion, Pantera.
“Pantera is those four guys - it’s Phil Anselmo, Rex Brown, Dime and Vinnie. But it’s just like when Led Zeppelin went out with Jason Bonham playing, it was phenomenal.”
Watch the full Zakk Wylde interview with Danny Wimmer Presents below
News of the planned reunion came via Billboard while the line-up grew from a rumour to truth at a rapid pace, Now all that's left for interested Maniacs to do is revisit Pantera's extraordinary recorded catalogue and get ready to "respect Walk" all over again, live in 2023.
The tour announcement comes off the back of Pantera's legendary sixth studio album Vulgar Display Of Power turning 30. The band and Z2 Comics came together to put out the Vulgar Display of Power graphic novel.
Speaking to the release of the novel, vocalist Phil Anselmo said
"We’re really happy and excited to have this graphic novel come out for the fans, and to be a part of something special, as it pertains to its artists and creators"
The Vulgar Display Of Power graphic novel features contributions from a who's who of the metal, art and literary world with musicians Eric Peterson (Testament), Keith Buckley (ex-Every Time I Die), Alan Robert (Life of Agony), Burton C. Bell (ex-Fear Factory, Ascension of the Watchers) joining Steve Niles (30 Days Of Night), Tony Lee (Beartooth: The Journey Below) and illustrators Brian Ewing, Ryan J. Downey, Erik Rodriguez, Ryan Kelly, Steve Chanks, Kevin Mellon, John Pearson, Danijel Zezelj and esteemed tattoo artist Paul Booth in helping to bring Vulgar Display Of Power to life.
Paul Booth shared his thoughts on the project revealing he sees it as a landmark moment for himself to be involved in a collaboration with Pantera of this scale and in this medium.
"I’m not sure I can even express what a tremendous honor it has been to work on this project for Pantera. The first music tour I ever went out on, Pantera headlined. That was back in ‘94 with Sepultura and Biohazard. To this day, I still compare every tour I’ve been on to that one as it really was the most special for me. This project has been an awesome experience and I greatly thank everyone involved!"
Vulgar Display Of Power graphic novel is available for preorder now with a variety of cover alternates available, our favourite of which can be viewed below. There's also a super dope action figure style statue on offer.
Listen to Vulgar Display Of Power now.
