Last year, Pantera announced its return to the stage with Charlie Benante and Zakk Wylde as the new members, and this year saw their plans for a few shared dates with Metallica on a world tour in 2023-2024. Ahead of the upcoming shows, Rex Brown joined the two for an interview with Rick Beato on YouTube, talking about reuniting after 22 years by saying:
“It’s so great to see another audience that maybe has been waiting all these years to finally see this thing live. For us, putting it together kind of what we want to talk about today is the pieces and everything that go into it. Even the fans! The way I look at it, it’s a sum of all parts.”
Mentioning his new bandmates’ performances, he went on:
“It’s just been beyond our wildest dreams. I mean, it really has. Especially with these two guys and just coming in and just nailing these integral parts and making it our own. You know, without touching the old – It’s all about the legacy at the end.”
The bassist further commented on the new lineup as he shared:
“Me and Charlie going in and making the impetus of what we needed, as long as we got tight. Then, Zakk came in and put the Zakk on it. That’s the way I look at it. Dime’s shoes were f**king pretty hard to fill, and this little boy nailed it. Plus, we’ve been friends for so damn long. It’s uncannily almost tighter than we’ve ever played back in the day.”
Despite Brown’s words, some fans and names in the industry criticized Pantera’s decision to go on without Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. In one case, Justin Hawkins suggested that the band should’ve changed its name for the reunion.
Upon these, Paul’s estate shared its support for the new lineup with Benante and Wylde on social media, while the guitarist commented on the matter in a chat with Eddie Trunk by saying:
“Everybody was like, ‘How can they call it a Pantera reunion?’ And I go, ‘Well, it’s Phil and Rex getting back together,’ because they haven’t played together for a while. I go, ‘It’s a Pantera celebration.’ That’s what it is.”
Referring to Pantera’s return as a tribute to the original members, he added:
“You’re honoring Dime, Vinnie, Phil [Anselmo], and Rex, all the guys, their achievements, what they achieved as Pantera, and all the mountains they conquered. That’s the way I look at it. That’s the way I’ve always looked at it.”
You can check out the band members’ recent interview in the video below.
