Philip Anselmo Would Consider a Pantera Reunion with Zakk Wylde and Rex Brown

2019-09-19

Pantera album artwork – Story by Cat Badra

Philip Anselmo has warmed up to the idea of doing some Pantera tribute shows with Zakk Wylde and Pantera bassist Rex Brown

Philip Anselmo hasn’t always been upfront when talking about doing any kind of Pantera tribute shows, but now, the singer has opened up to the possibility.

Anselmo, who performs Pantera classics with his band The Illegals, tells Chile’s Humo Negro that he is very open to the possibility of teaming up with Pantera bass player Rex Brown and longtime buddy and guitar great Zakk Wylde.

“Well, Zakk is a busy man … We spoke about it maybe one time,” Anselmo said in response to the question of a possible tribute gig. “If everything was lined up, I would do it, sure.”

He continued, “I’m open for anything. And Rex and I, we are in touch and we talk. We’re friends and everything’s cool. So, I keep an open mind, I keep an open mind. We’ll see in the future.”

Rumors of Wylde participating in a Pantera reunion peaked in 2014 when Anselmo would join Wylde onstage for a rendition of Pantera’s “I’m Broken” during Down’s tour with Black Label Society. Brown later joined in when the tour passed through Texas, further intensifying rumors.

However, the idea of Wylde stepping in for the late “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott was repeatedly shot down by Dime’s brother, Vinnie Paul, who remained estranged from Anselmo until the drummer’s own death in 2018. Vinnie harbored resentment toward Anselmo, who made inflammatory comments about Dimebag in a magazine interview shortly before the guitarist was slain onstage by a crazed gunman in 2004.

Anselmo and late Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul were not on speaking terms when Paul passed away last year. Even so, Anselmo says that Paul’s tragic death made him think about paying homage to the Pantera classics with his current band, the Illegals.

“The last thing on my mind, before all this happened, was really playing Pantera songs,” Anselmo told Humo Negro, “…and then Vince died. And then it was, like … man.’ Things got important.”

If a Pantera tribute show were to happen, it would have to fall between Wylde’s many 2020 tour dates on Ozzy Osbourne’s farewell tour. Meanwhile, Philip Anselmo and The Illegals will open on the final leg of Slayer’s farewell tour. That leg sets off Nov. 2 in Asheville, North Carolina.

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Cat Badra

Meet the expert - Cat Badra is a music writer for Audio Ink Radio and a range of other music, sports and lifestyle publications. She's a graduate of Michigan State University with a master's degree in theater and speech. Contact her at cat@audioinkradio.com.