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Surviving members of Pantera to reunite for live shows next year

By | Published on Friday 15 July 2022

Rex Brown and Phil Anselmo

The surviving members of Pantera – vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown – have announced that they are reforming to play shows in the US and Europe next year, marking the 40th anniversary of their debut album, ‘Metal Magic’.

Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante will take the places of the band’s late founders, the Abbott brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul.

In the US, the band will be represented by Artist Group International for the reunion shows, with agent Peter Pappalardo saying: “We are THRILLED to be working with such an iconic band and bringing their music back to the fans”.

Reception from those fans has been mixed, with many asking what the point is without the Abbott brothers. Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed on stage in 2004, while performing with his post-Pantera band Damageplan. Vinnie Abbott died from heart problems in 2018.

Anselmo, meanwhile, has proven a controversial figure, after sparking a racism row in 2016 when he was seen on stage giving a Nazi salute and shouting “white power”. He later insisted that this was an in-joke about bands being served white wine backstage. This was disputed by others, however.

Dates for the reunion shows are yet to be announced.



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