Sike! Pantera’s Rex Brown Says Live Album Announcement “Was a Joke”
Remember all the reports last week (including ours) about how Pantera‘s intimate club show in Minneapolis last week was recorded for a live album? Turns out that didn’t actually happen. I mean, the show definitely happened and by all accounts it looks like it was a hell of a show — but the recording announcement wasn’t real.
In an Instagram post made yesterday by Pantera bassist Rex Brown, it was revealed the announcement prior to the show’s start was actually just a joke made by comedian Craig Gass.
“What a great night! And no, we didn’t record a live album that night. That was a joke that [Craig Gass] made!”
Just before the band hit the stage that night, Gass got on the mic and told the audience that they were going to be part of Pantera history because the show was being recorded. Here’s exactly what he said at the time:
“Announcement number one. The band you are seeing tonight is not called COWBOYS FROM HELL. You are about to watch an exclusive show from the band PANTERA. The rumors got out quickly, [and] you guys bought up all the tickets. And you may have heard this rumor. And this is also true. We are recording our first-ever live album right here at the First Avenue. So, there’s a couple things you need to know about it. First of all, you will all, for eternity, be heard on a live PANTERA album. That’s the good news. The bad news, you’re not gonna get paid for this. Welcome to the music business.”
Now, forgive me but I’m feeling a bit skeptical here. You’re gonna tell me that it took a week for someone from the band to address the “joke”? To me, it sounds like someone’s trying to walk back the announcement after the fact, but maybe I just watch too much pro wrestling and this is just my addled mind thinking it’s a work. I’m sorry to say, but after guitarist Zakk Wylde said he was open to the idea of a live album, there’s just too much smoke for there not to be fire here.
Either way, there are plenty of chances to catch Pantera live that don’t involve rumors of a live album recording taking place. You can find those dates below.
Pantera Live Shows
08/23 Edmonton, AB – Commonwealth Stadium (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
08/30 Seattle, WA – Lumen Field (feat. Metallica & Mammoth WVH)
10/10 Sacramento, CA – Aftershock Festival
01/21 Helsinki, FIN – Ice Hall
01/23 Stockholm, SWE – Hovet
01/24 Oslo, NOR – Spektrum
01/26 Copenhagen, DEN – Royal Arena
01/28 Amsterdam, NET – AFAS Live
01/31 Ljubljana, SLO – Arena Stozice
02/01 Ostrava, CZE – Ostravar Arena
02/03 Budapest, HUN – Budapest Arena
02/04 Krakow, POL – Tauron Arena
02/06 Hamburg, GER – Sporthalle
02/09 Dusseldorf, GER – Mitsubishi Electric Halle
02/10 Brussels, BEL – Forest National
02/13 Bologna, ITA – Unipol Arena
02/13 Zurich, SWI – Hallenstadion
02/15 Paris, FRA – Adidas Arena
02/18 Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
02/19 Leeds, UK – First Direct Arena
02/21 Dublin, IRE – 3Arena
02/23 Birmingham, UK – Resorts World Arena
02/25 London, UK – OVO Arena Wembley
