Zakk Wylde Open to Making New Music with Pantera Bandmates, But Not Under That Name
There’s been a lot of hay made about how the current iteration of Pantera isn’t actually Pantera because the late drummer Vinnie Paul and the late Dimebag Darrell are no longer with us anymore. And while it really becomes a whole “Ship of Theseus” situation when you consider the new lineup featuring Anthrax’s Charlie Benante and Zakk Wylde, at least one person involved agrees that it just wouldn’t be the same if they were to make new music as a band.
This past Wednesday, Wylde was on SiriusXM’s Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk (as transcribed by Blabbermouth) when he was asked if he was open to making new music with the surviving members of Pantera, vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown. Though he said he would be, he noted that it would have to be under a completely new name.
“I think you would have to call it something else. You know what I mean? Pantera is those four guys. So, yeah, you can’t replace that.”
I’m sure that’s going to please a lot of purists out there. Naturally, Wylde was asked for clarification about that caveat on Trunk’s show. And while he made it sound like new music wasn’t currently in the works, the guitarist said right now they’re just focused on the task at hand.
“Yeah. If that was ever a bridge we crossed, we’d have to wait until we get there. But right now, it’s just the four of us celebrating what the fellas [from the classic lineup] created… I mean, how could you call it Pantera unless it was just pre-existing material and we were gonna record it — stuff that was in demo state or whatever, and it is songs that the guys wrote. But as far as new songs, it would have to be — you’d call it something else.”
New Pantera music is something that’s been talked about before, though it’s often come with the huge condition that it has to be done well and in a way that respects the band’s legacy.
These days, Pantera are out on tour with Lamb of God for the second leg of their North American run. You can find the full list of shows and venues below, though admittedly there are only a few dates left.
Pantera with Lamb of God Tour
02/24 Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena %
02/26 Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena %
02/27 Québec City, QC @ Centre Vidéotron %
Metallica M72 Tour Dates
6/14-16/2024 Download Fest @ Donington Park – Derby, UK @
8/02/2024 Gillette Stadium – Foxborough, MA **
8/09/2024 Soldier Field – Chicago, IL **
8/16/2024 US Bank Stadium – Minneapolis, MN **
8/23/2024 Commonwealth Stadium – Edmonton, AB **
8/30/2024 Lumen Field – Seattle, WA **
@ Festival date
** PANTERA supporting Metallica
# = with Nest
$ = with Child Bite
% = with Snafu
