Philip Anselmo has once again flared talks of a Pantera reunion after revealing that he and Black Label Society’s Zakk Wylde had recently discussed the idea of setting something up with Wylde on guitar.
Speaking with The Village Voice, Anselmo said that Wylde, who had previously stated that it would, “be an honor” to fill in for late Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell, was still interested in the idea: “I talked to Zakk about two weeks ago, and he’s very open for it. He’s got an open mind about it,” Anselmo said.
He added: “… it would better damn well f***in’ include me, or it wouldn’t be Pantera.”
However, Anselmo was quick to point out that the project also wouldn’t go ahead without the cooperation of Pantera drummer and Dimebag’s brother Vinnie Paul: “… truth be told, Vince has got a grudge against me that is really unfounded. And, honestly, I’ve always had a wide-open door when it comes to Vince.”
While Paul had previously agreed that if a Pantera reunion was to occur then Wylde would be the ideal choice to fill in for Dime, he has always been against the idea out of respect for his brother and hasn’t shown any interest in talking to Anselmo in years.
Anselmo told The Village Voice that he was intent on patching up his estranged relationship with Paul: “If it takes me standin’ there and lettin’ that little guy punch me in the f***in’ face repeatedly, over and over and over, til his hands were tired of hittin’ my rock-hard f***in’ head, as long as we could sit down and talk afterwards, I’m all for it, man.”
Despite conceding a Pantera reunion is doubtful, Anselmo remained positive: “Well, now, I didn’t say that the Pantera thing is a realistic thing. I don’t think that’s the important thing. I think what the important thing is, what Zakk and I discussed, is just Vince actually dropping his guard and realizing there is no treachery afoot.”