UPDATED: The Change.org petition demanding the return of Pantera is nearing its goal. The petition started by Pantera fan Kirsten Topperwein of San Antonio TX dubbed “The Pantera Project” surpassed 5000 signatures, its original stated goal. The new goal 7,500 signatures and now boasts a Facebook group to continue to drum up support. As previously reported by Ghost Cult the petition is calling for Pantera members Vinnie Paul Abbott and Philip H. Anselmo to reunite the band, along with bassist Rex Brown; and offering guitarist Zakk Wylde as a possible stand in for Dimebag Darrell Abbott, who was murdered on stage on December 8th 2004.

The statement from The Pantera Project:

For the past 12 years one of the most influential heavy metal bands in history has remained silent. After that horrific night where the metal community lost one of its most beloved guitarists – iconic guitarist Darryl “Dimebag” Abbott, Pantera has been relegated to “legendary” and “history”.

Aside from Dimes brilliance on stage, he loved his fans – and he showed it every time he was on stage. His passion for his craft, and his fans truly made him a metal guitar legend.
As fans first and foremost – and out of complete respect and love, our heart went out to the band with all they endured, especially to Vinnie his brother for his great loss.

But we are asking for what all true Pantera fans only wished could happen: To see Pantera live on stage again. We KNOW that no one could truly replace Dime. But his ‘brother’ in Metal Zakk Wylde could step into those shoes and make the universe right again. Dimebag and Zakk were close, if anyone could do this and have the big guy’s blessing, it would be Zakk Wylde.
So in a shout out to all the metal heads across the world: please sign our petition asking the band “With all due respect” to please consider a tribute tour to pay homage to Dime for his incredible life and all he stood for. Let us see the mighty Pantera take the stage and rock the world one more time. At the end of the tour, decide where it goes from there. As die-hard Pantera fans, this is what we are BEGGING for.

The Pantera Project greatly appreciates and thanks everyone for all your amazing support and efforts to truly honor an amazing person and musician who helped change heavy metal.
That is perfect!!!! Than

LETTER TO

Vinnie Paul

Philip Anselmo

Pantera Reunion/Tribute To Dime

Dimebag by Evil Robb Photography

The hope of many fans is that Pantera could someday reunite in some form or another. Wylde is often mentioned as possible member of such a reunion or tribute, volunteering himself to the band and his fallen best friend’s memory. While all the surviving members of the band have performed Pantera songs live, and Anselmo and Brown have gone on record promoting at least a tribute of sorts, Dimebag’s brother Vinnie Paul has repeatedly squashed any kind of talk of a reunion. At the same time a less vocal group of Pantera fans and artists prefer the band never reunite at all.

This past summer Mayhem Festival and Warped Tour co-founder Kevin Lyman went on record claiming he had a desire to make a significant offer to entice a version of Pantera to form and become one of the headliners for the currently defunct Mayhem Festival.