Pantera Move First Headlining Reunion Show to Major Arena After Smaller Venue Sells Out

2022-10-30

Zakk Wylde performing live at OzzFest with Black Label Society.

Zakk Wylde, who will be filling in on guitar for the Pantera reunion shows – Story by Cat Badra, photo by Anne Erickson

The Pantera reunion show in Santiago, Chile, in December has been moved to a larger venue due to a greater demand for tickets

The Pantera reunion has drummed up plenty of controversy, since two of the founding members of the band – bothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul – are no longer with us. But, regardless of what some Pantera fans feel about surviving members Rex Brown and Phil Anselmo getting the band together for a “reunion” tour, it’s selling well. In fact, the reunion is selling so well that on one date, it’s being forced to move to larger venues.

The metal group’s first headlining show in Santiago, Chile, sold out so quickly that the band is moving it to a major arena- one with three times the capacity of the original spot. The show has been moved from Dec. 13 at the 5,400-capacity Teatro Caupolicán to Dec. 12 at the 17,000-seat Movistar Arena. Brazilian metal band Sepultura will now open for the show.

Anselmo and Brown will be joined by guitarist Zakk Wylde and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante on the tour, filling in for Darrell and Paul, respectively. While the Santiago show isn’t Pantera’s first reunion show, it is the group’s only headlining gig on the reunion tour so far. The other dates have the guys playing a range of music festivals around the world, including Hell & Heaven Open Air and Monterrey Metal Fest, both in Mexico, plus Knotfest Colombia, Knotfest Chile and Knotfest Brazil.

As some fans aren’t willing to accept this tour as a real Pantera reunion, Wyle has said that he sees the trek as a celebration and way to honor the band’s legacy, and not a reunion. He said in an interview with Ultimate Guitar, “It’s Phil, Rex and two of their buddies getting together to honor Dime, Vinnie and all their achievements. It’s a celebration of Pantera and all the mountains they conquered. It’s the way I look at it.”

Author
Recent Posts

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.