Before Zakk Wylde officially became a member of Pantera in 2022, there were already speculations about him stepping in to replace Dimebag Darrell in the band.
A few months ago, Wylde explained that these rumors arose from his words about being willing ‘to support Darrell’ in a possible Pantera reunion with Vinnie Paul. But, apparently, Phil Anselmo had some doubts about this offer in those years.
Talking about the possibility of including Wylde in a reunion, the vocalist told WGRD 97.9 FM in 2012:
“Well, look, before anything like that could possibly happen, Vince [Paul] and I would have to actually be in the same room; we’d have to sit down, hash out whatever differences, demons… Whatever… We’d have to hash it all out.”
He went on to explain why he didn’t want the guitarist to work with Pantera by saying:
“And as far as Zakk Wylde goes, I’m not so sold on all that because I think he and I have to sit down and hash some crap out. That day has not come yet, and [when] that day comes, I can comment further on it. As of right now, it’s just talk.”
Starting with Darrell’s passing in 2004, a feud between Paul and Anselmo caused the drummer to cut contact with his former bandmates during his lifetime, as he blamed the singer for his words about the guitarist deserving a ‘severe beating.’
Through the years, Anselmo said he had an open door for a Pantera comeback with Paul, while the drummer repeatedly stressed there wouldn’t be a reunion without his late brother.
Still, after Paul’s death in 2018, the band members came back together with the addition of Wylde and Charlie Benante for new band projects.
This decision received criticism from some fans and names in the industry, who didn’t accept it as a Pantera reunion without the original members. So, Wylde explained the band’s intention during a chat with SiriusXM’s Eddie Trunk:
“Whenever the idea of doing a tribute has come up, you’re celebrating the guys and all their achievements and greatness. And that’s what it is. ‘Cause everybody was like, ‘How can they call it a Pantera reunion?’ And I go, ‘Well, it’s Phil and Rex getting back together,’ because they haven’t played together for a while. I go, ‘It’s a Pantera celebration.’ That’s what it is.”
Pantera announced two more performances in the US for November 2023. The band and its new tour lineup are scheduled for five more US dates in the summer of 2024.
