Guitar icon Zakk Wylde, known for his work with Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society, and Pantera, recently appeared on Billy Corgan’s “The Magnificent Others” podcast. The discussion covered various topics, including their shared musical influences, the challenges of creating an original sound, Wylde‘s time with Ozzy, and his involvement in the current Pantera tribute shows.
Wylde joined classic-era Pantera members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass), along with Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, to perform Pantera’s music. He clarified his motivation for participating, stating it was always a given if the opportunity arose. “My whole thing is, like, whenever anybody asked me — this is when Vinnie was still alive — it was just, like, ‘Hey, Zakk, man, if the fellas ever do it or whatever, did a reunion to celebrate Dime and everything like that, would you be [interested in being a part of it]?’ I go, ‘Of course I would.'”, he said.
He recalled a conversation with Rob Halford of Judas Priest, who expressed appreciation for the project. “Rob was, like, ‘Zakk, this is a real beautiful thing that you guys are doing.’ And I was, like, ‘Thanks, Rob. I said, ‘It’s not a matter of if I’ll do it; it’s when I’ll do it,'” Wylde explained. He likened his role to Eric Clapton performing Jimi Hendrix‘s material as a tribute. “I just equate it to Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton, with their relationship. If [Hendrix drummer] Mitch [Mitchell] and [bassist] Noel [Redding] would’ve said, ‘Eric, we wanna go celebrate Jimi. Would you sing and play Jimi‘s stuff?’ Of course Eric Clapton‘s gonna say yes.” He emphasized his close bond with the late Pantera brothers, “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul Abbott, adding, “I laid Dime the rest. I as a pallbearer. So what do you think I’m gonna do? He was my buddy.”
When discussing his approach to playing Pantera shows live, Wylde visualizes the late Abbott brothers enjoying the performances. “I just always look at it like if Dime and Vinnie were at the soundboard, and we go, ‘We got you guys an early Christmas present.'” He imagined their reaction to seeing the current lineup perform their songs: “‘I can’t believe these jacka**es are playing…’ I’m just saying — if it was Dime doing it, Dime and Vinnie doing it up there, with me and Charlie [in the audience], [and them] playing Ozzy or Anthrax songs or Black Label, whatever. Me and Charlie would be crying laughing.” Wylde also highlighted the unique feel Dimebag brought to his playing, suggesting that even if he played a song note-for-note, it would still sound like Dimebag. “Dime could play ‘Eruption‘ and it’s gonna sound, and you could listen to it and go, ‘Yeah, it sounds like Dime playing ‘Eruption‘. Even if it’s note for note, it’s just gonna sound like Dime, ’cause of his touch and his feel.”
Wylde stated that the response to the Pantera tribute has been “overwhelmingly positive.” “Anyone that comes and sees it, it is what it is — it’s a beautiful tribute to the guys.” He noted the diverse audience at their shows, with many younger fans experiencing Pantera‘s music live for the first time. “Every night Phil just always asks, he’s, like, ‘How many people saw Pantera back in the day?’ And then you’ll have, obviously, the Pantera faithful… And he is, like, ‘All right, how many people, this is their first time ever hearing these songs live?’ I’d have to say it’s either 75%… I mean, of the younger kids… My uncle Zakk always told me about the legend of Pantera and how great they were and it was just this force to be reckoned with. And so now I’m bringing my nephews who are old enough to see it now, because they were five years old when it ended.”
Wylde concluded by offering his perspective on why Pantera’s music has endured. He compared it to other legendary bands, stating, “Well, what I always say what separated Sabbath from everything, it’s not because it’s heavy. It’s because it’s great songs.” He then declared Pantera to be the “gold standard” within the extreme metal genre. “So with our Pantera, as far as I’m concerned, I always say Pantera in is in their genre of extreme metal, they are the gold standard of where everything… Just like how Sabbath and [Led] Zeppelin, The [Rolling] Stones, The Beatles are the gold standard… So, if it’s a southern rock band, just The Allman Brothers and [Lynyrd] Skynyrd are the gold standard of that style of music. So, with extreme metal, they’re all measured by what Pantera set.”
