Pantera played their first show since 2001 on Friday (Dec. 2) at Mexico's Hell & Heaven Metal Fest. With guitarist Zakk Wylde and drummer Charlie Benante having joined in place of the late Pantera members "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott, the reformed band featuring classic Pantera vocalist Philip Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown performed a celebratory set of Pantera classics.
The set leaned heavily on Vulgar Display of Power and Far Beyond Driven with Cowboys From Hell, The Great Southern Trendkill and Reinventing the Steel also represented. The only Anselmo album the band did not play anything off of was his debut with the group, 1988's Power Metal, which is not unexpected.
Fans who couldn't attend the gig in person can revel in the setlist and accompanying fan-captured footage from Friday night. The Pantera celebration continues with many more tour dates that will take the reformed group through 2024. That includes gigs with Metallica and Judas Priest.
See the Pantera set near the bottom of this post and see reactions from fans here.
When news first arrived in July that Pantera would tour again with a reformulated lineup, rock and metal fans responded. The following month, word emerged that the shows would start this year. Pantera then released a teaser video honoring the Abbott brothers. Another teaser came out on Nov. 26.
On Nov. 30, the Vinnie Paul Estate released a statement that said, "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."
Vinnie, later of Hellyeah, died in 2018. Dime was killed onstage in 2004 during a show by his and Vinnie's Damageplan. Their joint gravesite is in the brothers' home state of Texas. Pantera's last studio album was Reinventing the Steel (2000).
01. "A New Level" 02. "Mouth for War" 03. "Strength Beyond Strength" 04. "Becoming" (with "Throes of Rejection" outro) 05. "I'm Broken" (with "By Demons Be Driven" outro) 06. "Use My Third Arm" 07. "Drag the Waters" 08. "This Love" 09. "Yesterday Don't Mean Shit" 10. "Fucking Hostile" 11. "Planet Caravan" (Black Sabbath cover, with Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul tribute video) 12. "5 Minutes Alone" 13. "Walk" 14. "Cowboys From Hell" 15. "Domination" / "Hollow"
Follow Loudwire's 'Ultimate Groove Metal' playlist, featuring lots of Pantera and more here.
For tickets to Pantera's shows opening for Metallica, head here (check listings carefully — Pantera do not open each date with Metallica).
Dec. 2, 2022 – Texcoco, Mexico @ Heaven & Hell Dec. 6, 2022 – Monterrey, Mexico @ Metal Fest Dec. 9, 2022 – Bogota, Colombia @ Knotfest Dec. 11, 2022 – Santiago, Chile @ Knotfest Dec. 12, 2022 – Santiago, Chile @ Theater Coliseo Dec. 15, 2022 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Vibra * Dec. 18, 2022 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Knotfest May 26, 2023 – Sofia, Bulgaria @ Armeets Arena May 27, 2023 – Bucharest, Romania @ Metalhead Mtg May 30, 2023 – Budapest, Hungary @ Barba Negra May 31, 2023 – Vienna, Austria @ Gasometer June 2-4, 2023 – Nurburg, Germany @ Rock Am Ring June 2-4, 2023 – Nuremberg, Germany @ Rock Im Park June 5, 2023 – Lodz, Poland @ Atlas Arena June 8-10, 2023 – Hyvinkaa, Finland @ RockFest June 10, 2023 – Solvsborg, Sweden @ SwedenRock June 12, 2023 – Prague, Czech Republic @ O2 Arena June 13, 2023 – Berlin, Germany @ Verti Music Hall June 15, 2023 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ Copenhell June 21, 2023 – Hamburg, Germany @ Edel Optics June 22-24, 2023 – Oslo, Norway @ Tons of Rock Aug. 4, 2023 – E. Rutherford, N.J. @ MetLife Stadium ^ Aug. 11, 2023 – Montreal, Canada @ Olympique ^ Aug. 18, 2023 – Arlington, Texas @ AT&T Stadium ^ Aug. 25, 2023 – Los Angeles, Calif. @ SoFi Stadium ^ Sept. 1, 2023 – Phoenix, Ariz. @ State Farm Stadium ^ Nov. 3, 2023 – St. Louis, Mo. @ The Dome ^ Nov. 10, 2023 – Detroit, Mich. @ Ford Field ^ Aug. 2, 2024 – Foxborough, Mass. @ Gillette Stadium ^ Aug. 9, 2024 – Chicago, Ill. @ Soldier Field ^ Aug. 16, 2024 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ U.S. Bank Sta. ^ Aug. 23, 2024 – Edmonton, Canada @ Cmnwlth Sta. ^ Aug. 30, 2024 – Seattle, Wash. @ Lumen Field ^
* With Judas Priest ^ With Metallica