Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul (drums) and Dimebag Darrell (guitar) in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound Terry was replaced in 1987. Phil Anselmo became the group's new lead vocalist. In 2003, Pantera officially disbanded.

Any hope of a reunion was lost in 2004, when Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed on-stage at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio on December 8 while performing with Damageplan.

Legacy and Influences

---

Pantera have been influential to the development of nu metal, metalcore, and several other movements. They have also been called one of the pioneers of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal. Popmatters has claimed that, "Darrell Abbott's influence on the entire genre of heavy metal is massive; after Cowboys From Hell and Vulgar Display of Power, every notable young American metal band since has, in some way or another, copped their guitar style from those records: Tool, Korn, Deftones, Killswitch Engage, Limp Bizkit, Disturbed, White Zombie, Slipknot, As I Lay Dying, Job for a Cowboy, Avenged Sevenfold, Hatebreed, Lamb of God, Shadows Fall, Mastodon, The Showdown, Evile, DevilDriver, Five Finger Death Punch... the list is endless."

Pantera has toured on Ozzfest as main stage acts twice; the band played at the second annual Ozzfest in 1997 and the fifth Ozzfest in 2000. Over the course of their career, Pantera's members became known for their excessive partying and debauchery, even acquiring an official drink called the "Black Tooth Grin". The "Black Tooth Grin" ("Black Tooth", "The Grin", or "BTG", alternatively), named after lyrics from Megadeth's "Sweating Bullets", is a mixture of Crown Royal or Seagram 7 whisky (or both) and Coca-Cola.

“You don't get something for nothing, You can't have freedom for free, You won't get wise. . . With the sleep still in your eyes; No matter what your dreams might be."
                                              -Neil Peart