Black Label Society frontman and ex-Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde recently spoke about the possibility of a Pantera reunion with him sitting in for the late Dimebag Darrell. Over the years, the rumours of a possible Pantera reunion have persisted and Wylde’s name has often come up. Speaking about these long standing rumours and conjecture, Wylde said “It’s definitely a good time. I mean, if somebody was to say “a reunion,” I’d go, we’ll it’s a reunion of Phil, Rex and Vincenzo. But I’m just saying, for me, it’s just, it’s me going in and honoring and paying tribute. Whenever we’ve gotten together and jammed on tunes … and Vinnie sometimes is at Black Label gigs and Vinnie has gotten up on drums and jammed a Black Label tune. And between Hellyeah, we’ve all [toured] together. So it’s always a good time whenever we’re all hanging out together.”
This is not the first time that Wylde has been asked about the Pantera reunion and he has always given the same answer: “That’s all up to the fellows. But I love the guys and I’m just a phone call away.”
Alice In Chains frontman Jerry Cantrell was asked the same question and he candidly admitted that he didn’t have the technical skills to play for Pantera. “I don’t know, I don’t think I could play that fast! I’d go see it! I love all those guys, they’re an amazing band, and from my own experience I know it’s a tough ride sometimes. And it’s not really meant to last. It’s their music, they have the right to do whatever the f–k they want with it. Nobody really has the right to say anything about it. It’s their sh-t, if they want to go out and play it I’d go and see it!” Cantrell also gave his vote of confidence to Zakk Wylde and said “I think that would be great. That would be very cool.”
While Zakk Wylde may be eager for a Pantera reunion, the band members themselves are not on the same page. Bassist Rex Brown has previously indicated that he would support a Pantera reunion and even vocalist Phil Anselmo warmed up to the idea in a recent interview. However Dimebag Darrell’s brother Vinnie Paul, who also played drums for Pantera, has always been adamant about not reuniting. Dimebag Darell was shot and killed onstage by Nathan Gale on December 8, 2004 while performing with Damageplan at Columbus, Ohio.
Guitar World recently made a previously unheard Dimebag Darell available for streaming as part of their upcoming Dimebag Darrell tribute edition. Titled “Whiskey Road,” it was recorded during Pantera’s Reinventing The Steel tour in 2001. Speaking of the track itself, it is a southern rock song channelling the old school southern style blues vibe of Led Zeppelin and Lynyrd Skynyrd with all the instruments having been played by Dimebag himself. It gives an interesting hint as to what a solo Dimebag album may have sounded like. The song can be heard here.