Since Rex Brown and Phil Anselmo have put Pantera back together with Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante, I’ve often wondered What If Dimebag Darrel and Vinnie Paul were still around?? What if just Vinnie Paul were still here and would Pantera even be back?? Let’s take a look….
The biggest question out of all this is if Dime hadn’t been killed then would Pantera reunite?? I absolutely think so. I honestly feel like if Dime hadn’t been killed, then he most likely would’ve joined Phil on stage and jammed at a Down show or even at a Superjoint show. Another scenario that could happen is if neither of those things would’ve happened and Damageplan made one more album and then Pantera reunited. The Damageplan album was released in 2004 and if Dime were still around, I think Damageplan would’ve released a second album (apparently there are demos still around) or EP (probably an album), broken up, and the Abbott brothers, Rex, and Phil would go back to touring and making records. Personally I think we would’ve gotten a big reunion world tour and for the U.S. it probably would’ve been another Extreme Steel tour or something like it.
In the case of What If Vinnie Paul were still around, well I think we have our answer. This iteration of Pantera still wouldn’t have happened. I personally think that we wouldn’t be getting these tribute shows. I think Vinnie was too stubborn to let anything like this happen and honestly, it’s no coincidence that these shows started after he passed. Not to speak ill of the dead here but Vinnie Paul just seemed like he was a miserable person who under no circumstances would let these shows happen. Even in spite of Rita Haney (Dime’s widow) giving her blessing and patching things up with Phil. It really is too bad that Vinnie Paul couldn’t make amends with Phil because I never saw Pantera back when the brothers were still around. I have seen this current version twice (well three if you count when The Illegals opened for Slayer) and both times were great! So what do you think??
