Zakk Wylde Confirms He’s Joining Pantera Reunion Tour, but Doesn’t Consider Himself in the Group

variety.com:

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music CriticCelebrated guitarist Zakk Wylde has made it official, after rumors and anonymously sourced reports that he was joining Pantera for a reunion tour: It’s all true.

Except maybe for the part that he is truly “in” Pantera.In Wylde’s view, the guitarist whose shoes he will be filling, the late “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, can’t be replaced, so he considers himself more of an auxiliary member going into the upcoming concert and festival engagements.“Obviously, it’s not Pantera,” Wylde said over the weekend. “Pantera is those four guys — it’s Phil (Anselmo, the singer), Rex (Brown, the bassist), Dime and Vinnie (Paul Abbott, the band’s deceased drummer).

But it’s just like when Zeppelin went out with Jason Bonham playing, it was phenomenal. I told Jason, I was just, like, ‘Dude, you crushed it, man.’ It’s a great thing just to hear them play that music again… I’m beyond honored to be a part of it.” Wylde’s comments were reported by Blabbermouth, and took place in a conversation with Matt Pinfield and Jose Mangin of Danny Wimmer Presents at the Inkcarceration Music & Tattoo Festival in Mansfield, Ohio.“When Vinnie was still alive, when the fellows were all talking about doing it, I just always told ’em, I said, ‘Of course I would… If you asked me, why would I not do it?

I’m gonna honor Dime’,” continued Wylde, who was a friend of the man he’ll be subbing for. “It’s like when we do the ‘Dimebash’ [events], it’s a celebration of Dime’s greatness.