Zakk Wylde Talks 2023 Pantera Tour: "I Think It's a Beautiful Thing" | Revolver

Zakk Wylde Talks 2023 Pantera Tour: "I Think It's a Beautiful Thing"

"You're celebrating Vinnie and Dime's greatness"
zakk wylde TRAVIS crop 2017, Travis Shinn
photograph by Travis Shinn

Last week, the metal world was rocked by Billboard reports revealing that Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown would re-form Pantera with Black Label Society bandleader/Ozzy Osbourne sideman Zakk Wylde and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante to tour in 2023. While Anselmo and Brown have yet to weigh in, Wylde spoke on the subject over this past weekend at Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio.

Speaking to Matt Pinfield and Jose Mangin of Danny Wimmer Presents, Wylde said (as transcribed by Blabbermouth.net): "When Vinnie was still alive, when the fellows were all talking about doing it, I just always told 'em, I said, 'Of course I would ... If you asked me, why would I not do it? I'm gonna honor Dime.' It could be like Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell asking Eric Clapton if he would go out and honor Jimi [Hendrix] and Eric playing Jimi's stuff and singing Jimi's songs and they're going out as the 'Jimi Hendrix celebration.' And he's gonna honor his buddy and he's gonna play his songs. I think it's a beautiful thing. It's like when we do the 'Dimebash' [events in honor of Darrell], it's a celebration of Dime's greatness. It's a Pantera celebration — that's what it is ... You're celebrating Vinnie and Dime's greatness and you're celebrating all the mountains that Pantera conquered and crushed."

"Obviously, it's not Pantera," he added. "Pantera is those four guys — it's Phil, Rex, Dime and Vinnie. But it's just like when [Led] Zeppelin went out with Jason Bonham [son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham] playing, it was phenomenal. It told Jason, I was just, like, 'Dude, you crushed it, man.' It's a great thing just to hear them play that music again. I'm beyond honored to be a part of it."

No dates have yet been announced, though the lineup is expected to hit a number of major festivals across North America and Europe and stage some of their own headline concerts. According to Billboard, Wylde and Benante's involvement in the project was approved by the estates of Pantera's late founding Abbott brothers, guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul.