Zakk Wylde has spoken publicly for the first time about taking part in the upcoming Pantera reunion tour set for 2023.
Speaking with Matt Pinfield and Jose Mangin at the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival, Wylde said, “When Vinnie [Paul] was still alive, when the fellas were all talking about doing it, I just always told ’em, ‘Of course I would [take part in a tribute]… If you asked me, why would I not do it? I’m gonna honor Dime[bag Darrell].’”
Wylde would add, “…It’s like when we do the ‘Dimebash.’ It’s a celebration of Dime’s greatness. It’s a Pantera celebration — that’s what it is… If you ask me, it’s a beautiful thing. You’re celebrating Vinnie and Dime’s greatness and you’re celebrating all the mountains that Pantera conquered and crushed.”
Wylde would further note that while the tour is currently being called a “Pantera reunion” that this lineup is certainly not the “new” Pantera.
“Obviously, it’s not Pantera. Pantera is those four guys: It’s Phil [Anselmo], Rex [Brown], Dime and Vinnie,” said Wylde. “But it’s just like when [Led] Zeppelin went out with Jason Bonham playing, it was phenomenal. It told Jason, ‘Dude, you crushed it, man.’ It’s a great thing just to hear them play that music again…I’m beyond honored to be a part of it.”
Billboard broke the news of the Pantera reunion last week reporting singer Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown had signed with Artist Group International, who is in charge of booking the tour’s North American dates. Shortly thereafter, Wylde and Anthrax Charlie Benante were rumored to be taking part and filling in on guitar and drums for the late ‘Dimebag’ Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott, who co-founded Pantera.