PANTERA Makes a Triumphant Return: Vídeo, US Concert Comeback, Unforgettable Setlist, and Exciting Lineup Details
PANTERA just shared their official video of the gig that took place on May 6, 2023, after a 22-year hiatus. The revamped PANTERA rocked their first show in the US at the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally in Panama City, Florida. It was their first live performance in their home country in 22 years, since July 25, 2001, when they played at the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington, as part of the “Extreme Steel” tour.
Below, you can watch the official video of the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally concert, courtesy of PANTERA’s YouTube channel.
PANTERA’s setlist for the Thunder Beach Motorcycle Rally included a song that hadn’t been performed live since the band’s comeback last year: “Suicide Note Pt. II” from PANTERA’s 1996 album, “The Great Southern Trendkill.”
The current lineup of PANTERA features two surviving members from the classic formation of the band: Philip Anselmo on vocals and Rex Brown on bass. They are joined by guitarist Zakk Wylde (known for his work with OZZY OSBOURNE and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and Benante (from ANTHRAX).
Anselmo, Brown, Wylde, and Benante are headlining a series of major festivals in South America, Asia, North America, and Europe, as well as organizing some of their own headline shows. They will also be supporting METALLICA as the opening act for a massive stadium tour in North America in 2023 and 2024.
According to Billboard, the lineup has received approval from the families of the band’s founders, drummer Vincent “Vinnie Paul” Abbott and guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, as well as from Brown. In 2021, Brown had stated that Wylde would not tour with PANTERA if a reunion were to happen. It’s unclear what caused him to change his mind.
In March, PANTERA headlined the 2023 edition of Japan’s “comeback” festival, Loud Park. The two-day “limited” event took place on March 25 at Intex Osaka in Osaka and on March 26 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, near Tokyo.
In December, PANTERA performed seven concerts in Mexico and South America.
Benante recently opened up about his involvement in PANTERA’s comeback during an interview with “THAT Rocks!” – a new weekly YouTube series hosted by Eddie Trunk, Jim Florentine, and Don Jamieson. Addressing some of the criticism he has received for his participation with PANTERA, Charlie said, “People had their preconceived ideas of what they were going to think: ‘Oh, I don’t like this without Vinnie and Dime.’ And of course… What do you think? Don’t we know that Vinnie and Dime are no longer with us? But when we start playing the songs and you see the faces of the audience, all that shit goes out the window, the negative things that have been said.
“Dude, that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do, come out and do this and have people hear these songs again,” he explained. “And that’s what it’s about, really. It’s about the music.”
