Pantera getting together and doing some shows in memory of the late and great Abbott brothers has been a hotly-debated topic among fans ever since it got announced. Though a lot of people seem to be coming around on the idea after seeing footage of the band's first performance with Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and Black Label Society guitarist Zakk Wylde at a festival last week.
Still, you're always going to have the online folks crying "this isn't Pantera" and about what a shame the whole thing is. To which Benante has a simple reply – don't come see us. In an interview with Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, Benante said the shows are very obviously a celebration of the Abbott brothers and that people who aren't into them should just not go.
"This was never a reunion," said Benante as transcribed by Blabbermouth. "How can it be a reunion without Vinnie and Dime here? Sometimes people will send me something, and I see things online, and it's so disrespectful to both Darrell and Vinnie, and it's totally disrespectful to us too. And it's just, like, 'Man, if you don't wanna come, you don't have to come.'
"One of the first things I said to Philip on the phone, I said, 'This, to me, is more on an emotional level than any other level.' This means a lot to me personally, to go out there and represent those guys and represent the Pantera name. And that's all I'd ever want for me. I don't care about it financially and stuff like that; this, to me, I had to do this. I didn't wanna see anybody else playing these songs but me up there."
In terms of not being into the Pantera shows, Benante makes an extremely solid point. Have you ever not done something? I'd wager it's far easier to stay home and not do something than to get your shit together and actually go do something. So all you have to do if you're not into it is sit home, put on the Pantera records that nobody has taken from you, and enjoy the band as you remember them. Super easy.
Pantera's coming live dates are as follows.
12/6/22 – Monterrey, Mexico – Monterrey Metal Fest
12/9/22 – Bogotá, Colombia – Knotfest Colombia
12/11/22 – Santiago, Chile – Knotfest Chile
12/12/22 – Santiago, Chile – Movistar Arena
12/15/22 – São Paulo, Brazil – Vibra São Paulo
12/18/22 – São Paulo, Brazil – Knotfest Brazil
5/26/23 – Sofia, Bulgaria – Armeets Arena
5/27/23 – Bucharest, Romania – Metalhead Meeting Open Air Festival
5/30/23 – Budapest, Hungary – Barba Negra
5/31/23 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer
6/2-4/23 – Nürburgring, Germany – Rock Am Ring
6/2-4/23 – Nürnberg, Germany – Rock Im Park
6/5/23 – Lodz, Poland – Atlas Arena
6/8-10/23 – Hyvinkää, Finland – Rockfest
6/10/23 – Sölvesborg, Sweden – Sweden Rock Festival
6/12/23 – Prague, Czech Republic – O2 Arena
6/13/23 – Berlin, Germany – Verti Music Hall
6/15/23 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Copenhell
6/15-18/23 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
6/21/23 – Hamburg, Germany – Edel Optics
6/22-24/23 – Oslo, Norway – Tons Of Rock
Pantera will also tour with Metallica in 2023 and 2024 at one of the very many dates below alongside Mammoth WVH.
8/4/23 – East Rutherford NJ – MetLife Stadium [Tickets]
8/11/23 – Montreal QC – Stade Olympique [Tickets]
8/18/23 – Arlington TX – AT&T Stadium [Tickets]
8/25/23 – Inglewood CA – SoFi Stadium [Tickets]
9/1/23 – Glendale AZ – State Farm Stadium [Tickets]
10/3/23 – St. Louis MO – The Dome at America’s Center [Tickets]
10/10/23 – Detroit MI – Ford Field [Tickets]
5/24/24 – Munich DE – Olympiastadion
6/7/24 – Helsinki FI – Olympic Stadium
6/14/24 – Copenhagen DK – Parken Stadium
7/5/24 – Warsaw PL – PGE Narodowy
7/12/24 – Madrid ES – Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano
8/2/24 – Foxborough MA – Gillette Stadium [Tickets]
8/9/24 – Chicago IL – Soldier Field [Tickets]
8/16/24 – Minneapolis MN – US Bank Stadium [Tickets]
8/23/24 – Edmonton AB – Commonwealth Stadium
8/30/24 – Seattle WA – Lumen Field [Tickets]
