Every Pantera fan knows that Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell are irreplaceable, and even Vinnie’s estate claimed there couldn’t be a Pantera reunion without the two. Still, Metallica recently gave their blessing to the new Pantera.
After Dimebag and Vinnie’s passing, Pantera was hesitant about a reunion. However, they recently announced that the band is reuniting with Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante as the Abbott brothers’ replacements. This announcement divided Pantera’s fanbase into two; one side felt pretty excited about the news, while others didn’t see this as a reunion.
Justin Hawkins, for example, argued that Phil Anselmo should use a different name for the reunion than Pantera. On the other hand, Corey Taylor agreed that the Abbott brothers could not be replaced but said fans should support Wylde and Benante through this journey. Vinnie Paul’s estate stated it wasn’t a reunion but a chance to honor the brothers’ legacy.
As it appears, Metallica stood by Pantera’s side. The metal icons will welcome the reformed Pantera on their forthcoming 72 Seasons world tour, with the band supporting them on selected North American dates. This came out as a surprise since many don’t want to dub this new lineup as Pantera. However, Metallica gave their blessings for the reunion.
So, Metallica’s support is a significant move to allow the fans to see this as a way of celebrating Pantera’s legacy rather than an attempt to form a new band under the name Pantera. In the meantime, the band recently performed for the first time in twenty years at Hell & Heaven Metal Fest in Mexico. As fan footage suggests, they can still rock the stage despite all those years.
