The estate of the late Vinnie Paul has issued a statement regarding Pantera‘s upcoming shows.
As previously reported, Pantera members Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown are reforming the “Walk” outfit for their first concerts since 2001, with Black Label Society‘s Zakk Wylde and Anthrax‘s Charlie Benante stepping in for the late Abbott brothers “Dimebag” Darrell and Paul, respectively. Dime was murdered in 2004, and Vinnie died in 2018 of a heart condition.
In its first official comments since Billboard broke news of the Pantera shows over the summer, Paul’s estate writes, “There can never be a Pantera reunion without Vinnie and Dime. However, there is no better way to celebrate and honor Vinnie and Dime’s legacy, than to bring the music of Pantera directly to the fans.”
“We are honored that Charlie and Zakk, their very close friends and musical brothers, will share the stage with Philip and Rex, to unleash the power of Pantera live around the world,” the statement concludes.
Billboard also reported that the estates of both Dime and Vinnie gave the reconstituted Pantera lineup the “green light.”
The first Pantera show will take place this Friday in Mexico. Following trips to South America and Europe, the tour will come to the U.S. in 2023 and 2024 when Pantera opens for Metallica.
Copyright © 2022, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.