Zakk Wylde joined the reformed Pantera alongside Charlie Benante in 2022 to fill in for his close friend, late, Dimebag Darrell. Judas Priest’s Rob Halford gave the new lineup his blessings after seeing one of their live shows, according to a recent interview with ‘The Rich Shertenlieb Show.’
“I remember I was [talking to] Rob Halford,” Wylde recalled. “Rob saw one of the shows, and he was like, ‘Zakk, it’s really a beautiful thing you guys are doing.’ Because I was telling Rob it was never a matter of whether I’d do it. It was a matter of when.”
The guitarist informed surviving members Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown about his eagerness to jump in if needed long before their decision to reunite.
He explained, “You know, it’s just like one of those things with your parents; if they ask you to come home, you don’t say [anything], you just go home. If they need help around the house, you just do it. So it’s the same thing.”
The band’s revival started with live performances in Latin America, marking their first tour together in 21 years. They also performed at selected dates on Metallica’s North American leg of the M72 World Tour in 2023-2024.
“No, we haven’t talked about anything like that,” Wylde shared when asked if they also had plans for a new record. “That’s up to the fellas. Whatever they want to do. ‘Cause, like I said, me and Charlie, we’re basically just allied forces and they’re brothers. So it’s just whatever the guys want to do right now.”
Pantera has three more concerts in Canada and the US in August and October. They will then continue touring in Europe next year.