Many metalheads around the world are excited about the Pantera shows taking place, but depending on who you talk to, you may get a strong reaction if you say these shows are a “Pantera reunion.”
In fact, one person who is going to disagree with that idea is Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante (who is sitting in as drummer for Pantera). Per a recent conversation with Eddie Trunk of Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, Charlie is asked about the negative sentiments that have been expressed pertaining to these shows.
In talking about this subject, Charlie specifically brings up how these shows are not meant to represent some kind of “Pantera reunion.” He actually shares a sentiment that many other metalheads have vocalized already: “How can it be a reunion without Vinnie and Dime here?” Here is everything Charlie had to say (as transcribed by Blabbermouth):
“This was never a reunion. 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.”
What do you make of Charlie Benante’s points? Recently, the drummer talked about the possibility of creating new Pantera music (a link to that story can be found below).
'I’ve got tons of riffs': Charlie Benante Speaks To The Potential Of Creating New Pantera Music
Vinnie Paul's Estate Releases Statement, Says There Cannot Be A Pantera Reunion Without Vinnie + Dime
WATCH: Pantera Pay Tribute To Vinnie and Dime During Reunion
Clip of @skisum today on #trunknation talking 1st @Pantera show this past weekend.Full clip on my FB & IG. Full interview now on demand @SIRIUSXM app. Just enter Trunk Nation in search. Check out full interview. Great stuff & of course we talked @Anthrax too pic.twitter.com/OhbnZPosEp
— Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk) December 7, 2022