So what do you ask the band that's been asked everything? You let the fans ask the questions. Pantera's Vinnie Paul took time out to chat with Shoutweb before the release of their new album "Reinventing The Steel". Here are some of the answers to the questions on your mind.
Phillip Anselmo - Vocals
Vinnie Paul - drums
Dimebag Darrell - guitar
Rex Brown - bass
Shoutweb: How are you Vinnie?
Vinnie: I'm doing great.
Shoutweb: A late Happy Birthday to you!
Vinnie: Thank you!
Shoutweb: I won't ask you how old you are! (laughter)
Vinnie: Oh, that doesn't matter. (laughter) I'm 35.
Shoutweb: I'll start with the most frequent question asked, "What took you guys so long to make a new album?"
Vinnie: I can't believe people are still asking me that! (laughter) All I can tell you is that we put the live album out at the end of '97. After that we got a call from Black Sabbath who asked us to tour the states. After that we were going to go in the studio. Then Black Sabbath called us again to tour Europe. You can't turn that down! Metallica asked us to do some dates. And Black Sabbath called us again and we did one more time around the states. So to us it's only been about a year that we haven't been touring. We had the live album in there but it's basically been four years since we had a studio record. We thought the timing was perfect for Pantera 2000 CD.
Shoutweb: So it was... peer pressure! I get it now! (laughter)
Vinnie: (laughter) No, I wouldn't call it peer pressure. It's funny because people come to our shows and they come backstage and say, "Great show. What a great concert... so, when's the new record coming out?" And I say to them, "When we're finished touring then we'll make the new record!"
Shoutweb: And if you didn't tour with Black Sabbath and decided to record, then those same people would be asking you, "Why didn't you tour with Sabbath when you had the chance?"
Vinnie: Exactly! (laughter)
Shoutweb: I know that there are definite advantages to having your own studio but I'm wondering what the disadvantages are?
Vinnie: You can take too much time. You get caught up in wanting to perfect everything. You want to get it right and trying different things.
Shoutweb: There's a lot of new fans of the hard rock and new metal that is popular now. What do you think of these bands and this sound?
Vinnie: Well, they do what they do. What they do is pretty much different than what Pantera is about. There's a lot of music out there today using computer programs and synthesizers. We've always felt that we have to make music and do what is very true to us.
Shoutweb: Is "Reinventing The Steel" a heavier album?
Vinnie: I think this is just as heavy as any other Pantera record.
Shoutweb: Are there any bands out there that you like? There are a lot of fans out there who are into the new metal bands. Do you think they're Pantera fans too?
Vinnie: There's bands out there that say they're hard rock or metal but they have a of lot hip-hop or rap mixed in. I get asked, "What is a typical Pantera fan?" There is no typical Pantera fan. I see younger fans everywhere and I've seen guys that are fifty years old singing along to every song. I think for the most part the younger generation of fans is still into what Pantera's about.
Shoutweb: Do you think it's that consistency in your message and your music that has won over the loyalty of your fans and keeps them coming back for more?
Vinnie: Without a doubt. Our fans are the greatest. We've been through everything together - without radio or MTV or support like that. If they ever wanted to come along on the Pantera ride that would be fine but we're not going to change who we are and what we're doing.
Shoutweb: There has been a lot of piracy with your older recordings like "Power Metal". Are you ever planning on re-releasing any of it for your fans?
Vinnie: The way we feel about that is - that was where we were at that point musically. We've gone on and recorded newer material. Our label has approached us and we're not interested. There is a guy in Germany making thousands and thousands of dollars off of Pantera records.
Shoutweb: You have a single out now called "Revolution Is My Name". Is there going to be a video for that?
Vinnie: We're working on a video right now. People always ask me why they can't see the video. There is more than just MTV out there for video. It's all about underground video channels and there's all kinds of places in Europe that will carry it.
Shoutweb: You could change the face of MTV and there is always the Internet.
Vinnie: You never know.
Shoutweb: So, do you know what the next single will be? I love "Yesterday Don't Mean Shit". There is something urgent about that song.
Vinnie: We don't know yet what the second single will be but there will be several off of this record. Right now we're working on the first single which has gotten more radio airplay then any of our previous songs.
Shoutweb: So Kerry King from Slayer contributed on "Goddamn Electric", right?
Vinnie: Yeah. It was after one of the Ozzfest dates last year. We grabbed all the gear, set him up in a bathroom, wired it up, and told him you're going to be playing lead guitar on this track. He just ripped through it on one take and that was it.
Shoutweb: Speaking of Ozzfest, you're on the bill again for 2000.
Vinnie: Yes, it's going to be great. We start in Europe and then Japan.
Shoutweb: I understand you're playing at a smaller venue in Stockholm for your first date.
Vinnie: All I can say is that we had someone book all the shows for us that know those cities. For most of them we're playing 4,000 or 5,000 seat venues but in Stockholm I think it only holds 2,800.
Shoutweb: So I understand you've got quite a weekend planned for the listening party at The Clubhouse in Dallas, Texas?
Vinnie: Yes, some of our fans are coming in from various places and we're going to listen to the new record and there will be some lovely women entertaining as well.
Shoutweb: I was just at a Pantera listening party in New Jersey.
Vinnie: Really? How was that?
Shoutweb: It was great. I was at a video shoot for a band on Elektra called The Deadlights. After the video shoot the fans hung around to hear the new Pantera album.
Vinnie: That's great.
Shoutweb: So what's your favorite beer? (laughter)
Vinnie: I don't drink a lot of beer but when I do it's Coors Light! (laughter)
Shoutweb: Fans have been asking, do you guys have an e-mail account?
Vinnie: The best way to meet us is to come to a show. Come out by the bus after the show.
Shoutweb: How do you feel about the Internet and things like MP3s?
Vinnie: The Internet is great but it's changed a lot of things. You can find out anything about anybody. It's no longer just their phone number. You can find out where they live and get a map to their house. Credit cards numbers... everything is on the computer.
Shoutweb: What can fans expect to hear on the upcoming tour?
Vinnie: There's going to be old stuff and a lot of the new stuff. We know the fans want to hear certain songs so we try to fit it all in.
Shoutweb: Some people have mentioned that Phil has made comments about Korn. Is that true and is there any possibility of you playing together?
Vinnie: Those guys were in town one night. We hung out with them and they were good guys. We'd love to play with them. I'm sure it would probably be a festival situation, but sure we'd play with them.
Shoutweb: Is there going to be a home video made for this tour like you've done with past tours?
Vinnie: Oh yeah, we're always filming. It should be out by the end of the year.
Shoutweb: Where will you be on tour this year?
Vinnie: With Ozzfest we'll go to Europe, then Japan. We're going to have a headlining tour in the U.S. starting some time in September if all goes well.
Shoutweb: Will you tour in Latin America?
Vinnie: Yes, we have a huge following in Latin America. We'll get to Latin America, Australia, and the Pacific Rim again.
Shoutweb: You mentioned the Internet and how you can find out anything. I read that someone asked if Phil has throat cancer?
Vinnie: See, there you go with the Internet truths again. (laughter)
Shoutweb: (laughter)
Vinnie: Phil does not have throat cancer. He is perfectly fine. He sings on this record and he really sings.
Shoutweb: Why don't you ever play "Drag The Waters" live?
Vinnie: We played it a few times and it didn't get the reaction that we wanted. We may have to think about playing that one again live.
Shoutweb: So tell me about the cover art for "Reinventing The Steel". Who it is in this photo?
Vinnie: That's Phil's assistant Dustin. We had this bonfire going and we were all having a good time. At one point someone dared him to run through the fire naked. The next thing we knew he was doing it. There was someone there with a camera so they got him doing it. Normally our album covers have some kind of artwork, so we sent our label on a wild goose chase and we didn't really feel like anything, so we ended up coming back to that picture.
Shoutweb: Thank you Vinnie! Have a great tour!
Vinnie: I just want to thank all the fans for coming out to the shows and buying
our records over all these years. See you on tour!