The confederate flag has different meanings to people depending on where they are from and how they feel about it. To many, the flag represents hate, bigotry, and racism. But to some it can be seen as a symbol of Southern pride.
Pantera was a groove metal band from Arlington, Texas that formed in 1981 and disbanded in 2003. They began as a glam metal band, but then transitioned to a heavier sound and were labeled as groove metal band. Glam metal is defined as a subgenre of hard rock that combines pop hooks with heavy guitars, along with the look of big hair and makeup. Groove metal is defined as a subgenre of heavy metal that contains slow to mid tempo guitar riffs with syncopated rhythms.
The most well-known band line up consisted of vocalist Phil Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown and the brother pairing of guitarists Dimebag Darrell and drummer Vinnie Paul. They released 4 glam metal albums between 1983 and 1988, and then 5 groove metal albums between 1990 and 2000. The band went on a hiatus in 2001, but then disbanded in 2003 because years of tension between the two brothers and Anselmo.
During the time that Pantera was a glam metal band, Phil Anselmo was not apart of the band until 1987. The first 3 glam metal albums were recorded with Terry Glaze on vocals and and Phil Anselmo on the 4th one.
The glam era of Pantera is basically been disowned by Pantera. None of those albums are listed on their website and they are not on streaming services.
During the time that Pantera were performing, they would actively use imagery of the confederate flag. They would use it in photos, merchandise, promotional material and even on stage.
This video from Ozzfest 1998 shows Pantera performing one of their most well-known songs, “Walk.” The guitar that Dimebag Darrell is using on stage has the Confederate flag on the body of the guitar. While the camera focuses mainly on Anselmo throughout most of the song, the camera focuses on Darrell for the guitar solo and the flag is in full view. This guitar is one that Darrell would use often, and it became a signature of his.
This image is from 2001 and is from the tour for the last album they released, Reinventing The Steel. The image shows Confederate flags being displayed all over the stage using lights. This was done often and t-shirts and posters from tours would have the flag somewhere in the design.
In a 2015 interview with Hard Rock Haven, Phil Anselmo talked about the Confederate flag and how he regrets Pantera’s use of it.
“These days, I wouldn’t want anything to f—ing do with it, because, truthfully… I wouldn’t,” Anselmo adds. “I wouldn’t want much to f—ing do with it at all, and personally, you know I would never… The way I feel, and the group of people I’ve had to work with my whole life, you know… You see a Confederate flag out there that says ‘Heritage, not hate.’ I’m not so sure I’m buying into that, you know? But I can look at any… People can point out flaws in any social group, any ethnic group, any ideology and anything like that, and being that’s, once again, because everybody has different ideas about things … At this point in time, I just wish everybody would chill the f–k out man and realize, you know, maybe a good dose of love, for lack of a better word, would do us all friggin’ a lot better instead of pulling sides, taking sides. You know, everybody wants to have a firm stance on things, but maybe sometimes we should sit back and listen for a change, you know?”
Vinnie Paul had a different view on the movement of taking down the Confederate flag. In a 2015 interview with Sticks For Stones, he said,
“Honestly, this country was built on freedom of speech and freedom of expression, and when you can no longer do that, then it is no longer based on that, you know. It’s a touchy thing, you know, and that’s really all I’m going to say about it. I just think that it doesn’t follow what the country was built on [and] what it was based on. To me, that blows, but that’s how it, is man.”
When Pantera was using the Confederate flag, it was during a time when our culture was not as it is today. Even within the band itself, there are differing opinions on if it should be allowed as Pantera’s symbol.
Even though quotes from Anselmo and Brown stated they do not want to be associated with the flag anymore, the 20th anniversary edition of the 1996 album, The Great Southern Trendkill, was released in 2016 with imagery of the flag on the back of the physical. The original 1996 version had it on the back, and it is interesting that the 20th anniversary version still had it.
I was unable to find any quotes from Dimebag Darrell about the Confederate flag because he was tragically murdered onstage on December 8, 2004 while performing with Damageplan. Dimebag Darrell was buried inside of a “KISS Kasket” and was also buried alongside Eddie Van Halen’s “bumblebee” guitar from the back cover of “Van Halen II.” Vinnie Paul passed away on June 22, 2018 in his sleep due to dilated cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease. Vinnie Paul was also buried in a “KISS Kasket” and right next to Dimebag Darrell.
Works Cited
Grow, Kory. “Phil Anselmo ‘Doesn’t Want Anything to Do’ With Rebel Flag.” Rolling Stone, 13 July 2015, www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/phil-anselmo-on-confederate-flag-i-dont-want-anything-to-do-with-it-185068/.
“Pantera Biography, Songs, & Albums.” AllMusic, www.allmusic.com/artist/pantera-mn0000005441/biography.
“Pantera Drummer Vinnie Paul’s Cause of Death Revealed.” Consequence, 27 Aug. 2018, consequence.net/2018/08/late-pantera-drummer-vinnie-paul-cause-of-death/.
“PHILIP ANSELMO Says PANTERA’s Use Of Confederate Flag Imagery ‘Was About As Innocent As Innocent Could Be’.” BLABBERMOUTH.NET, 9 Sept. 2016, www.blabbermouth.net/news/philip-anselmo-says-pantera-use-of-confederate-flag-imagery-was-about-as-innocent-as-innocent-could-be/.
“Philip H. Anselmo of Superjoint.” Http://hardrockhaven.net/online, 13 Aug. 2015, hardrockhaven.net/online/2015/arcint2015/audio-interview-with-philip-h-anselmo-of-superjoint-pantera/.
Dimebag Darrell to be buried in KISS KASKET. (2004, December 13). BLABBERMOUTH.NET. https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/dimebag-darrell-to-be-buried-in-kiss-kasket/
“Dimebag” Darrell was buried in a kiss Kasket with Eddie van Halen’s bumblebee guitar. (2015, February 23). FeelNumb.com. https://www.feelnumb.com/2010/11/30/dimebag-darrell-was-buried-in-a-kiss-kasket-with-eddie-van-halens-bumblebee-guitar/#lightbox/2/
Discography – Pantera. (n.d.). Pantera – Cowboys From Hell. https://pantera.com/discography/
