Charlie Benante opens up about live album plans and controversy over Pantera’s reformation

Charlie Benante was questioned in a recent interview with Hot Metal regarding the prospect of Pantera‘s restored lineup — which includes surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals), Rex Brown (bass), Benante (drums), and Zakk Wylde (guitar)—creating new music, as per Blabbermouth.

There was some talk — but nothing, really. I would love to release a live album of this lineup so we can document what we did and just have it, I think that would be a great thing.

Despite the fact that original guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott was murdered in 2004 and Darrell’s brother, original drummer Vinnie Paul, passed away from heart disease in 2018, the current version of Pantera has been granted permission to use the band name for their touring effort. In interviews, Wylde calls the endeavor a “Pantera celebration.”

I feel I was put in this Pantera situation for a reason and that’s why I embraced it so much and that’s why I love it so much, because it’s something bigger than the band. And I wish people nowadays would be more caring and loving towards us all, you know? Not just musicians, but to each other. Stop being so rotten about things, because I’ll tell you this much: [in] 10 years’ time, a lot of this stuff is gone. So if you don’t enjoy it now, that’s it: it’s done.

I think in the beginning of the whole thing there were naysayers and all I would say is ‘just come [to one of the shows]’. If you like it, great. If you don’t like it, okay. You never have to come again. But the thing is, the people who were coming were bringing their kids who never saw Pantera before. This isn’t the same. Dime and Vinnie are not there, but we are just playing these songs that need to be played again, and it’s giving people smiles on their faces again and it’s a great thing.

The 63-year-old drummer, who has been with Anthrax since 1983, responded as follows when asked about Pantera’s future plans.

I don’t really know. I know we have a few shows this summer and then maybe some shows next year, but that’s as far as it goes.

Upcoming shows:

• Sunday, May 24, 2026 – Frankfurt, Germany – Deutsche Bank Park (Supporting Metallica)
• Thursday, June 11, 2026 – Budapest, Hungary – Puskás Aréna (Supporting Metallica)
• Friday, June 19, 2026 – Dublin, Ireland – Aviva Stadium (Supporting Metallica)
• Sunday, July 5, 2026 – London, United Kingdom – London Stadium (Supporting Metallica)
• Thursday, July 9, 2026 – Athens, Greece – Release Athens 2026 (Plateia Nerou)
• Sunday, July 12, 2026 – Istanbul, Türkiye – Ataköy Marina Arena
• Thursday, September 17, 2026 – Louisville, KY, USA – Louder Than Life

The Abbott brothers, guitarist Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul, founded the American heavy metal group Pantera in Arlington, Texas, in 1981. Today, the band is made up of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown, and touring musicians Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante. The Abbott brothers, Brown, and Anselmo, who joined in 1982 and 1986, respectively, made up the group’s most well-known lineup. In the 1990s, the band is credited with creating and popularizing the groove metal subgenre. Pantera, which has sold about 20 million records worldwide and been nominated for four Grammy Awards, is regarded as one of the most popular and influential bands in heavy metal history.