In a recent conversation with Brazilian music journalist Igor Miranda, guitar virtuoso Zakk Wylde shared his thoughts on the current Pantera lineup and its future. Wylde, who has been filling in for the late “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, addressed several topics, including the possibility of new material from the band.
When asked about potential new songs, Wylde stated, “No, we haven’t sat and talked about, like, ‘Oh, guys, let’s get together and write songs,’ or whatnot; there hasn’t been anything like that. I mean, the only discussions we’ll have are just what other new songs we wanna put in the setlist. Like when we put ‘Floods’ in and then we got together at rehearsals, got together over at Phil‘s house, we just rehearsed everything. But no, nothing like… We haven’t been sitting around writing riffs and things like that.”
Regarding the possibility of a live album, Wylde seemed open to the idea, saying, “Yeah, whatever the fellas wanna do, we knock it out. Let’s be real — it’s a live album every night. People with their phones and everything are recording it anyway, so it doesn’t matter to me. You go up there and you play to win every night.”
Wylde also shared his perspective on the current Pantera lineup, describing it as more of a celebration than a tribute. He explained: “Yeah, that’s what I feel it is. It’s not even a tribute. It’s more just a Pantera celebration. Like whenever we go out and do the ‘Experience Hendrix’ [tours], which I always have a blast when I do that, it’s all of us going out and celebrating Jimi’s greatness. To me, this is a Pantera celebration. We’re celebrating all the mountains that Pantera conquered. So that’s what this is.”
The guitarist also addressed his approach to playing Dimebag‘s parts, acknowledging that his interpretation naturally differs from the original. Wylde elaborated on this point, drawing parallels to other legendary guitarists playing each other’s material.
“Oh, yeah, even if Dime was up there playing the solo to ‘No More Tears’ or ‘Mama I’m Coming Home’, it’s gonna sound like Dime playing the solo to ‘No More Tears’. ‘Cause he has his touch and his feels. When Randy Rhoads was playing Black Sabbath songs, it sounded like Randy Rhoads playing Black Sabbath songs. You listen to the ‘Tribute’ album, when Saint Rhoads was playing ‘Iron Man’ and he was playing ‘Paranoid’ and ‘Children Of The Grave’, it sounds like Randy playing Black Sabbath songs. It’s Randy‘s guitar tone and Randy‘s touch and Randy‘s playing. But that’s what makes it cool. Yeah, to me, it’s just common sense. Dime just sounds like Dime no matter what he’s playing.”
