Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. The group was formed in 1981 by the Abbott brothers—drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist Dimebag Darrell—along with lead vocalist Terry Glaze. Bassist Rex Brown joined the band the following year, replacing Tommy D. Bradford, who was the unofficial original. Having started as a glam metal band, Pantera released four albums during the 1980s. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera replaced Glaze with Phil Anselmo in late 1986 and released Power Metal in 1988. With its fifth album, 1990s Cowboys from Hell, Pantera introduced a groove metal sound. The band achieved its breakthrough with Vulgar Display of Power (1992), featuring Anselmo’s sandpaper-like vocals, heavy guitar riffs, and a precise rhythm section.
Pantera went on to become one of the most successful metal bands of the 1990s. The band released three more studio albums—Far Beyond Driven (1994), The Great Southern Trendkill (1996), and Reinventing the Steel (2000)—before disbanding in 2003. In the years since, the band’s members have been involved in several side projects, and a reunion of the original Pantera lineup was rumored as late as 2018.
| Phil Anselmo | Vocals | June 30, 1968 |
| Dimebag Darrell | Guitar | August 20, 1966 |
| Vinnie Paul | Drums | March 11, 1964 |
| Rex Brown | Bass | July 27, 1964 |
10 Best Pantera Quotes
“We were just a band that wanted to make the best music that we felt like making.”
– Dimebag Darrell, from Louder Sound
“It’s all about having a good time and being yourself. That’s what Pantera was all about.”
– Phil Anselmo, from Louder Sound
“I think that Pantera was one of the first bands to really take the music to a new level and really get away from the spandex and the big hair and all that stuff.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Louder Sound
“We just wanted to be ourselves and write music that we wanted to play and enjoy, and it seemed to work.”
– Dimebag Darrell, from Guitar World
“I’ve always been an advocate of having a good time, and Pantera was all about that. We just wanted to have a good time and play music that we liked.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Guitar World
“We were the first band to bring the power of metal to the mainstream and make it relevant.”
– Phil Anselmo, from Rolling Stone
“I think that was the thing that set us apart. We just did what we felt. We didn’t try to be anybody else. We just did what we felt.”
– Dimebag Darrell, from Rolling Stone
“We all wanted to be the coolest heavy metal band on the planet.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Rolling Stone
“It was just a matter of us doing what we felt and not trying to be like anybody else.”
– Phil Anselmo, from Rolling Stone
“We just wanted to make the best music that we possibly could and make it as heavy and as mean as we could.”
– Rex Brown, from Guitar World
7 Inspirational Pantera Quotes
“A lot of people think metal music is about being mad at the world and being negative, but really it’s about being inspired and having ambition.”
– Phil Anselmo, from Guitar World
“No matter what you do, no matter how successful you become, never forget your roots and never forget where you come from.”
– Dimebag Darrell, from Loudwire
“If it’s not heavy, it’s not metal.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Guitar World
“The music we make is the music we want to hear.”
– Rex Brown, from Pantera.com
“We wanted to write songs that had an attitude and a groovin’ feel to them.”
– Phil Anselmo, from Pantera.com
“We have an attitude towards metal that we consider ‘power metal’, and that’s a metal style that has definite power and aggression, but at the same time is still very melodic.”
– Dimebag Darrell, from Pantera.com
“We’re out to do something that’s our own, that’s different, that’s new and that’s fresh.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Pantera.com
5 Famous Pantera Quotes
“I want to make sure that the Pantera legacy is never forgotten.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Rolling Stone
“I don’t have any regrets about Pantera. The only regret I have is that we didn’t stay together longer and just keep making records. That’s the only regret I have.”
– Phil Anselmo, from Blabbermouth
“I think one of the things that was special about Pantera was that we were able to pull so many different influences and make them one.”
– Dimebag Darrell, from Guitar World
“I try to keep Pantera alive in the spirit of the music and the attitude and the aggression and the groove.”
– Rex Brown, from Houston Press
“It was really a family-type thing, and we’d fight like brothers, but it was all for the betterment of the music.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Guitar World
7 Pantera Quotes About Love
“Love is the only thing that will last forever.”
– Dimebag Darrell, from Guitar World
“Love is the greatest thing that you can have in this world.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Guitar World
“Love is the most powerful thing that you can have in your life.”
– Phil Anselmo, from Louder Sound
“Love is a very powerful thing. It’s the greatest thing that we have.”
– Rex Brown, from Louder Sound
“Love is about understanding someone and having compassion for them.”
– Dimebag Darrell, from Metal Sucks
“Love is the most powerful thing, and it’s the only thing that will last.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Metal Sucks
“Love is the only thing that matters in the end.”
– Rex Brown, from Metal Sucks
8 Pantera Quotes About Life
“Life is what you make of it. You can make it hard or you can make it easy.”
– Dimebag Darrell, from Guitar World
“Life’s a tough gig and you’re playing it hard.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Guitar World
“Life is too short, man. You can’t beat yourself up over things that you can’t control.”
– Phil Anselmo, from Louder Sound
“Life is too short to let anyone stand in your way.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Louder Sound
“Life doesn’t always go the way you expect it to, so you have to adjust.”
– Dimebag Darrell, from Metal Sucks
“Life’s a rollercoaster, man.”
– Phil Anselmo, from Louder Sound
“Life isn’t a dress rehearsal.”
– Vinnie Paul, from Louder Sound
“Life is like a roller coaster: You just have to hang on and hope you don’t get sick.”
– Dimebag Darrell, from Metal Sucks
5 Quotes About Pantera
“For me, Pantera was the greatest metal band of all time.”
– Corey Taylor, from Loudersound
“Pantera was the best metal band in the world.”
– Zakk Wylde, from Loudersound
“What Pantera did for heavy metal was incredible.”
– Charlie Benante, from Loudersound
“It was Pantera that made me feel like I could do this.”
– Jonathan Davis, from Loudwire
“Pantera defined a whole era of metal.”
– Steve Vai, from Loudersound
Interview with Pantera
Frequently Asked Questions About Pantera
1. What are some of the most famous Pantera quotes?
Pantera was an American heavy metal band that formed in 1981 and disbanded in 2003. During their career, the band released nine studio albums, including the highly successful Cowboys from Hell and Vulgar Display of Power. Their lyrics depicted a wide range of topics, from love and death to politics and social issues. As such, the band has left behind some memorable quotes that have resonated with fans over the years. Here are some of the most famous Pantera quotes:
- “You think you’re untouchable, but you’re not invincible.” – Cowboys from Hell
- “You can’t kill my spirit, it’s my dreams you steal.” – Cowboys from Hell
- “There’s no one to save me, I’m my own grave.” – Cowboys from Hell
- “Walk with me in Hell, and I will show you fear.” – Walk with Me in Hell
- “I’m the one that you fear, I’m the one that you hate.” – Walk with Me in Hell
- “I’m your nightmare, come true, I’m the one that you fear.” – Hellbound
- “I’m the one with no soul, I’m the one with no control.” – Becoming
- “Pain and suffering, it’s all I feel.” – Becoming
- “My will is strong, I’m still alive.” – Strength Beyond Strength
- “My will, my way, I’ll never die.” – Strength Beyond Strength
2. What is the origin of Pantera’s lyrics?
Pantera’s lyrics reflect the wide range of influences of the band’s members, from early blues and classic rock to modern metal and hardcore punk. Many of their songs are written from personal experiences and reflect on political, social, and philosophical issues.
- Vocalist and guitarist Dimebag Darrell’s lyrics often focused on his own personal experiences and the state of the world around him.
- Bassist and vocalist Rex Brown wrote songs about his struggles with addiction and his outlook on life.
- Vocalist Phil Anselmo’s lyrics were often dark and personal, but also addressed issues such as racism and sexism.
- Drummer Vinnie Paul wrote songs about a variety of topics, including his love of music, relationships, and the band’s fans.
Overall, Pantera’s lyrics reflect the wide range of influences that the band members had, and continue to have, on the metal and hard rock genres. Their unique blend of styles and subjects makes them one of the most influential bands of all time.
3. Who wrote the lyrics to Pantera’s songs?
The lyrics to Pantera’s songs are mainly credited to vocalist/lyricist Phil Anselmo. Some of the most popular songs with lyrics written by Phil Anselmo include:
- Walk
- Cemetery Gates
- Cowboys from Hell
- 5 Minutes Alone
- This Love
- Mouth for War
- Revolution is My Name
- I’m Broken
- Drag the Waters
- War Nerve
- Floods
Additionally, late guitarist Dimebag Darrell, who was also the band’s main songwriter, contributed lyrics to some of Pantera’s songs. Some of Dimebag’s most popular lyrical contributions include:
- Domination
- Psycho Holiday
- Strength Beyond Strength
- Planet Caravan
- Cemetery Gates
- Walk
- Revolution is My Name
- This Love
4. What themes are explored in Pantera’s music?
Pantera’s music is heavily rooted in themes of aggression, anger, and rebellion. Many of their songs explore themes of violence, pain, and death. Other popular themes include loss, identity, strength, and perseverance.
Some of the specific themes covered in Pantera’s music include:
- Anger and aggression
- Violence and pain
- Death and mortality
- Loss and loneliness
- Identity and belonging
- Strength and perseverance
From the aggressive “Walk” to the heartfelt “Cemetery Gates”, Pantera’s music has always been a reflection of their beliefs and values. Through their music, they have explored a variety of themes and emotions, making them one of the most influential metal bands of all time.
5. What is the Legacy of Pantera’s Music?
Pantera’s legacy is immense, and their influence can still be felt in the metal scene today. From their early thrash metal beginnings to their later groove metal sound, Pantera created an entirely new breed of heavy metal music.
Their impact on the metal scene is undeniable. Here are some of the ways Pantera has left their mark on the music world:
- Pantera was one of the first bands to popularize the “groove metal” sound, which is characterized by its heavy guitar riffs and pounding drums.
- The band’s musical style was influential in the development of nu metal and metalcore genres.
- Pantera’s lyrics often focused on themes of self-empowerment, rebellion and strength.
- Their music videos often featured anti-authoritarian messages and were seen as an influence on the rap-metal genre.
- Pantera has been cited as an influence by many of the biggest metal bands of the last two decades, such as Slipknot, Lamb Of God, and Korn.
The impact Pantera left on the metal scene is still felt today, and their influence can be seen in the music of generations of metal bands that have come after them.
Conclusion
The Pantera band was a powerful force in the music industry, inspiring generations of fans to express themselves through their music. The band’s lyrics and melodies spoke to many, allowing listeners to feel understood in their struggles and experiences. Their legacy of hard rock and metal will continue to influence and inspire generations to come. From the classic “Walk” to the fan-favorite “Cowboys From Hell,” Pantera’s music will never be forgotten.
