The band, in its original lineup, had only played here once before, back in 1998. Now, a partly different lineup is hitting the stage. So what can we expect from one of the biggest names in metal history under these circumstances? And how have the surviving members been marked by their battles with addictions and each other.

Trailer-thrash

The champion lineup of Abbott brothers — guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul, vocalist Phil H. Anselmo, and bassist Rex Brown — was catapulted to worldwide fame by their 1990 album Cowboys From Hell, after ditching the teased hair, spandex, and KISS-inspired gimmicks.

The next four albums and the associated tours turned Pantera into metal gods, a brutal, whiskey-fueled, trailer-thrash atomic bomb destroying stages, infused with the spirit of the old Southern Confederacy. Meanwhile, the members were also obliterating their own brain cells, with alcohol consumption levels that shocked even the metal scene.

Farewell Brother!

Booze, drugs, and the relentless album-tour-album cycle slowly devoured the band. They played together for the last time in Japan in 2001, after which everyone went their separate ways musically. Relations between Phil Anselmo and the Abbott brothers deteriorated so badly that it seemed Pantera was over forever.

Guitar genius Dimebag was shot dead in December 2004 by a fan for reasons still unclear, in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, while performing with his brother’s Damageplan. His older brother, Vinnie Paul, passed away in 2018 from coronary artery blockage.Tribute or Cash Grab?

After the band’s spectacular and stormy demise, it was shocking when Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown announced they would perform under the Pantera name with Zakk Wylde (known from Black Label Society and Ozzy Osbourne) and Anthrax super-drummer Charlie Benante.

• Abbott brothers celebration of metal—or a way to exploit fans?
• Reunion or tribute band?

Either way, this is one of the most divisive tours of 2023.

“This obviously isn’t Pantera,” Zakk Wylde stated in an interview. “Pantera was Phil, Rex, Dime, and Vinnie. But just like Led Zeppelin regrouped with Jason Bonham on drums, it’s phenomenal to hear and play these songs live again. I see it like Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience inviting Eric Clapton to honor Jimi’s work, and touring under, say, ‘The Jimi Hendrix Celebration.’”Rockers, Money, and Magic

Indeed, a whole generation of rockers grew up never seeing arguably the most influential metal band since Metallica play live. My first reaction was the smell of money, but with so many interests and emotions in this equation, it’s probably not naive to think this project isn’t just about the cash.

Charlie Benante — who in civilian life is the Anthrax drummer and songwriter — recalls on Eddie Trunk’s podcast:

“This was often joked about. I even talked to Vinnie back then: if Dimebag were alive, would he bury the hatchet with Phil and reform Pantera? Later, Zakk’s name came up multiple times as the only possible replacement for Dimebag. Sadly, Vinnie has also left us. This specific lineup was conceived around December 2021. Rex first called me to see if I’d join. Of course I said yes, what an honor! Against the usual workings of the rock business, we kept it secret until August 2022. A small miracle!”

Channeling Legends

“My family knows how much I immersed myself in Pantera’s legacy — I lived and breathed it. I’m playing on a completely different drumset than usual, trying to stay true to Vinnie’s sound in every way. I want people to not hear the difference between our playing with eyes closed. Our first show was at Knotfest in Mexico City. About 75 minutes in front of the craziest crowd in the world. On my wrist was Dimebag’s wristband, in my pocket Vinnie’s drum glove, invoking their spirit. They were really there — anyone present could feel it.”

Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Brazil welcomed the metal Frankenstein with overwhelming enthusiasm. Anyone curious can check Charlie’s channel for a taste of South and Central American hospitality.

Phil in front right

The band’s highly controversial frontman, New Orleans’ Philip H. Anselmo, accelerated the band’s collapse with back problems tied to a later escalating heroin addiction, but he was also the one who reconciled with Dimebag’s widow, initiated the tribute/cover band, and secured approval from the guardians of the sacred Abbott legacy.

Anselmo embodied both the toxic, aggressive bar-room archetype and a sensitive, intelligent artist. Around this unpredictable, always drunk or high singer, chaos was normal. Though he hasn’t used hard drugs since 2005, he still faces consequences — for both himself and the band — of his occasionally provocative or outright Nazi-like behavior.

A Vulgar Display of White Supremacy

Germany’s two biggest rock festivals, Rock Im Park and Rock AM Ring, canceled Pantera’s summer shows due to Anselmo’s infamous 2016 Nazi salute incident and earlier allegedly racist remarks. Rock Im Park is held on the Zeppelin field in Nuremberg, the site of massive Nazi rallies in the 40’s, making it understandable that local authorities, organizers, and audiences reacted strongly to the show’s announcement.

A Reunion?

Given the story, the timing of the tour feels natural. In June 2018, Vinnie Paul died while having no contact with Phil. The news hit Phil hard — any chance for reconciliation vanished, the shared legacy hung in the air. Or did it? By April 2021, Anselmo had assembled Philip H. Anselmo and the Illegals for a Pantera song livestream titled A Vulgar Display of Pantera.

“After Vince’s death, there was enormous pressure on us to play more Pantera. Some songs made it into the set here and there, but the way I was singing back then, it was a young guy’s style — I could barely squeeze out that intensity.”

Despite aging, the stream was a hit. Gears turned, managers, agents, promoters, insiders, and schemers all played their part — and the tour was born. The hype and promising first shows aside, the biggest question remained: does a Pantera tour without the Abbott brothers even make sense?

Abbott Magic

What did this wildly colorful, successful sibling duo contribute that made them irreplaceable? Dimebag Darrell and his brother Vinnie might have looked like two Southern dudes, with their instruments decorated in slave-state flags, loyal Bush voters, partying harder than anyone else.

Scott Ian, Anthrax’s legendary rhythm guitarist, recalls in his autobiography a long joint tour:

“It took time to get used to the amount of alcohol I had to drink with Dimebag and the boys. After the tour, when we went to a bar with my friends, they were stunned I ordered nearly a whole tray of shots — and almost drank it all. My tolerance was through the roof; it took me a while to come back down to mortal levels.”

Vinnie once hosted the Stanley Cup-winning Dallas Stars at his house, only for a player to drop the trophy from the terrace near the pool. But their uniqueness wasn’t just in hedonism — they lived and breathed music. Dimebag saw himself as a successor to the Van Halen brothers, with his older brother Alex a fantastic drummer, while Eddie became arguably the greatest rock guitarist of the era.

Van Halen and KISS with meth and moonshine

KISS was another guiding star. Dime posed in Ace Frehley-style makeup with his first guitar before he could even play a note. Their country-producer father and free-spirited mother supported their musical ambitions until Dimebag dominated local guitar competitions while Vinnie matured into an accomplished drummer.

From southern rock, country, and heavy metal, Dimebag created a unique style — aggressive, fast, yet soulful, often bluesy — that influenced generations of guitarists. Vinnie’s wild, precise drumming formed the backbone of the Pantera sound. These two larger-than-life personalities lived their music 100%, speeding full throttle toward their dreams.

Dimebag was buried in a coffin gifted by Gene Simmons (KISS bassist of Hungarian descent), alongside Eddie Van Halen’s legendary Bumble Bee guitar.

Rex Brown: The Backbone

Rex Brown, Pantera’s bassist, born 1964 in Texas, generally stayed in the background while his more extraverted bandmates commanded the nonstop party. Quietly, he nearly drank himself to death. His precise playing, following Dimebag’s complex riffs, appears not only on Pantera albums but also on Down, Kill Devil Hill, and Crowbar recordings. On the new tour, he largely stays out of the spotlight, leaving it to the new members.

A cure from Metallica

Despite all the drama, Pantera’s most crucial element is still their music. Leaving aside early hair-metal albums, the four cemented themselves in metal Valhalla with five major albums, starting with the trailblazing Cowboys From Hell. I still remember watching the clip on MTV’s Headbanger’s Ball, thrilled by its sharp, fresh, aggressive sound. Anselmo’s presence leaned more hardcore, but the music was pure metal.

“Metallica’s 1991 Black Album left a huge gap in the metal scene. We loved that album, but we knew many wanted something heavier and faster. That’s where we aimed Vulgar Display of Power,” Anselmo recently said.

The plan worked. The album is the perfect essence of Pantera. The ‘92 tour was massive, with hits like Mouth for War, This Love, Hollow, and Walk.

The End Begins

1993’s Far Beyond Driven became their first #1 album in the US. Pressures mounted, while Anselmo’s back issues worsened, and painkillers plus heroin foreshadowed the band’s end. Tracks like I’m Broken, Planet Caravan (Black Sabbath cover) , Five Minutes Alone, Becoming still shine.

Three years later, Great Southern Trendkill reflected a band in crisis; Phil was largely absent during recordings. Despite being experimental, the album was well-received. Dimebag’s solo on Floods became one of the all-time greats.

2000’s Reinventing The Steel saw a band exhausted from touring returning to their roots, writing metal anthems about the band, idols, and fans. Highlights include Revolution is My Name, I’ll Cast a Shadow, Hole in the Sky.

Ascend

The last album’s recording joy didn’t last. Tour plans were delayed due to Anselmo’s health and canceled after 9/11. Phil and Rex worked on Down’s second album instead. Dimebag and Vinnie eventually formed Damageplan. Anselmo realized Pantera could be over, but too late — Dimebag was killed, Vinnie cut ties with Phil, and Rex watched sadly from the sidelines.

Officially, the band never disbanded. Fans attending the final tour will witness one final act of this Greek-tragedy-worthy saga. (As of 2025 September, Pantera is still on tour)

Photo By Elekes Andor – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0