Pantera headlined the Opus stage at the Download Festival in Donington Park, UK, on Saturday, June 15th, marking their first UK performance in over two decades.
The band’s current lineup, announced in 2022, features original members Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown, joined by Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante and longtime Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde. Together, they aim to honor and celebrate Pantera’s legacy.
Their 12-song set at Download included hits like “Mouth For War,” “Becoming,” “This Love,” “Floods,” “Walk,” and “Cowboys From Hell,” ending with an encore of “F’ing Hostile.”
Fans in the UK and Ireland can catch Pantera again early next year on a five-date tour starting in Glasgow on February 18th and concluding in London on February 25th.
Reflecting on the band’s reformation, Zakk Wylde shared his thoughts during an interview at the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio. He said, “When Vinnie (Paul) was still alive, and the fellows were talking about doing it, I always said, ‘Guys, of course I would… If you asked me, why would I not do it? I’m gonna honor Dime.’ It’s like celebrating Jimi Hendrix’s greatness, a beautiful thing.”
Wylde emphasized, “Obviously, it’s not Pantera. Pantera is those four guys: Phil, Rex, Dime, and Vinnie. But like when Zeppelin went out with Jason Bonham playing, it’s phenomenal. It’s a great thing to hear them play that music again.”
