On December 2nd, Pantera finally performed their inaugural gig as the band reentered the metal scene with their first performance in over twenty years. Fans at Mexico’s Hell and Heaven Fest were blessed with this experience as the band took the stage with their new lineup in which longtime friends Anthrax’ Charlie Benante and Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society joined original members, Philip Anselmo and Rex Browne. This performance will function as the kickoff show preceding the band’s “increasingly busy tour schedule that’s set to traverse South America this winter and eventually hit Europe and the United States later in 2023” (Revolver Mag).
According to Eli Enis of Revolver Magazine, “Pantera’s stacked, 15-song setlist spanned their most beloved material, including their cover of Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan” during which a tribute video to the band’s founding brothers, Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul — who passed in 2004 and 2018, respectively — played on the screen behind them.” Many fans, including band accompanist Zakk Wylde and original member Rex Brown, held their reservations as to whether proceeding with the reunion would be disrespectful to the name of their late bandmates, but as the many videos posted depicting the show, Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul will be greatly remembered, and will live on throughout Pantera’s continued performances.
Check out videos posted by Revolver Magazine of their performance.
Pantera setlist, 12/2/22:
A New Level
Mouth for War
Strength Beyond Strength
Becoming (with Throes of Rejection outro)
I’m Broken (with By Demons Be Driven outro)
Use My Third Arm
Drag the Waters
This Love
Yesterday Don’t Mean Shit
Fucking Hostile
Planet Caravan (Black Sabbath cover, with Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul tribute video)
5 Minutes Alone
Walk
Cowboys From Hell
Dom/Hollow
Videos have also been released depicting Pantera’s soundcheck for their first show in twenty years.
See Vinnie Paul’s estate’s thoughts on holding the Pantera reunion without the Abbott Brothers here.
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