ZAKK WYLDE Is Down To Write New PANTERA Songs, Just Not As PANTERA (Mostly)

Pantera officially reunited (reactivated, reformed as a celebratory thing – whatever you wanna call it) in 2022. The band’s lineup includes classic Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo and bassist Rex Brown alongside guitarist Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne) and drummer Charlie Benante (Anthrax).

Of course alongside the numerous Pantera shows come the question of potential new music. In an interview with Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk, Wylde said he’s down as long as it’s not under the Pantera name.

“I think you would have to call it something else,” said Wylde. “You know what I mean? Pantera is those four guys. So, yeah, you can’t replace that.”

He added: “Yeah. If that was ever a bridge we crossed, we’d have to wait until we get there. But right now, it’s just the four of us celebrating what the [the classic Pantera] created.”

Wylde then clarified his stance, saying he’s down to make music with Anselmo, Brown, and Benante. Just not as Pantera… unless it was stuff that was already written when Dimebag and Vinnie Paul were still alive. Then it seems that the Pantera name is a go.

“I mean, how could you call it Pantera unless it was just pre-existing material and we were gonna record it — stuff that was in demo state or whatever, and it is songs that the guys wrote,” he said. “But as far as new songs, it would have to be — you’d call it something else.”