In a brand new interview with Radioactive MikeZ, host of the 96.7 KCAL-FM program “Wired In The Empire”, MUDVAYNE singer Chad Grey, who performed in HELLYEAH with Vinnie Paul Abbott for 12 years previous to the PANTERA drummer’s tragic passing, mirrored on his friendship with the legendary metallic musician. He mentioned partly (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I take into consideration Vin each day. He was an ideal buddy, man. He taught me rather a lot, man. And I might been within the enterprise for some time and I might been writing songs for some time [before the formation of HELLYEAH], however he simply taught me some stuff. And anytime he was, like, ‘That is how me and my brother [late PANTERA guitarist ‘Dimebag’ Darrell Abbott] used to do it,’ I am simply, like, all ears… However he would share that stuff with me, man. And he all the time supported me, man. He liked what I did. He liked my lyrics. He liked my melody. He liked that I may sing. He liked that I may yell. He liked that I may scream. He liked and he embraced every part I did. That was actually superb. That was actually, actually superb. He actually appreciated what I did… So, having someone like that, that simply all the time will get you again, that you just simply had a lot respect for lengthy earlier than you ever performed in a band with him…”
Chad continued: “These guys had been my heroes, man. Dime and Vinnie had been similar to royalty to me. And I actually seemed as much as them. And the [PANTERA] dwelling movies and stuff, they educated me to be a rock star. They confirmed how a lot enjoyable it might be in the event you liked what you probably did and you liked your followers and you liked taking part in your music. And there was a stage of Dime — andVinnie — that was simply so lovable and so humble. Vinnie was utterly 100% approachable. And these guys had been mega stars. PANTERA was a mega band. Anyone anytime ever got here as much as Vinnie, he would all the time signal autographs, he would all the time take footage. And I’ve all the time been that method.”
Again in March 2024, Grey weighed in on the truth that PANTERA‘s surviving members Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) have united with guitarist Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY) and drummer Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX) for a world tour beneath the PANTERA banner. Grey provided his views on the PANTERA return throughout an look on “The Jesea Lee Present”. He mentioned partly: “I do know what it’s, and I do know that some ranges of the intention are true and pure, however I additionally know that from sitting in on 1,000,000 fucking interviews with Vinnie Paul and him and I interviewing collectively and shit, and the entire time, principally, that [PANTERA reunion] wasn’t taking place. And there was all the time some clown interviewer [who] apparently was simply setting himself up for failure, he’d be, like, ‘So what is the cope with all of the mutterings we’re listening to in regards to the PANTERA reunion with Zakk,’ and Vinnie would actually go, ‘My brother’s lifeless.’ It is all he would say. That is all he would fucking say. And so they would not say one other fucking phrase. And that is the place it was. And that is the way in which Vinnie thought of it. PANTERA was finished ‘trigger his brother was lifeless. So after I hear that and I hear how passionately he mentioned that, and I understand how a lot he meant it… He did not care. Vinnie did not want the fucking cash. Vinnie‘s entire coronary heart was in HELLYEAH. He liked HELLYEAH so fucking a lot. It was such an honor to have the ability to play in that band with him and have him actually bleed for that band. It was every part to him, and he did not care about PANTERA anymore.”
Grey went on to say that he understands why so many PANTERA followers are excited to have the ability to see the band’s traditional songs carried out stay.
“I’ve talked to so many individuals about it, and truthfully, I feel that the final consensus is that individuals are loving to fucking be standing on that ground once more and listening and having them fucking, regardless of how they sound, fucking blazing into these fucking songs and taking part in that setlist,” Chad mentioned. “That setlist is imply as fuck. That setlist is all my favourite shit.”
Requested if he had had an opportunity to see the reformed PANTERA carry out stay but, Grey mentioned on the time: “I have never seen it, no. However, dude, I noticed PANTERA 14 occasions as [the classic] PANTERA. The primary time I noticed them, they had been principally nonetheless [touring in support of the] ‘Cowboys From Hell’ [album]. After which I noticed them 13 extra occasions from then to [2000’s] ‘Reinventing [The Steel]’.”
He added: “The PANTERA factor, to me, it is so arduous for me to course of, as a result of I get it. I get it. I used to be a fucking large PANTERA fan. And I perceive what standing on that ground means too, as a result of in the event you’re standing on that ground, chances are high you are in all probability slightly lengthy within the tooth. Not that there aren’t these younger youngsters that by no means noticed ’em, ‘trigger I assure you there’s quite a lot of ’em or no matter, however there’s one thing… The fountain of youth is heavy metallic — it is like a fountain of youth. You go stand on that fucking ground and also you’re standing there and also you’re trying on the PANTERA backdrop they usually fucking stroll out they usually tear into ‘Power Past Power’ or no matter, dude, guess what? You are not fucking 40-something, you are not 50-something, you are 18 years outdated once more, dude, and also you’re 18 years outdated once more for that night time.”
Elaborating on why it has been troublesome for him to embrace the PANTERA comeback, Chad mentioned:  ”I used to be greatest associates with one of many fucking males that did it, that made that band occur and stuff like that. And he was by no means behind it, man. He was simply by no means behind it. So it is arduous, for me to… ‘trigger I’ve quite a lot of fucking respect for Vinnie Paul. I actually do. And I’ve quite a lot of respect for Dimebag Darrell. And it is cool — let it’s the tribute factor or no matter, however actually query how for much longer it goes or what else occurs with it. I’d similar to to be sure that we’re giving love and respect to these two fallen brothers, man, as a result of they had been a very, actually fucking huge a part of music, man. It looks as if form of a cheat that they don’t seem to be right here to be part of it, one thing that they constructed with their very own arms.”
Grey clarified that he has “nothing however love for Zakk. And Charlie‘s a fucking great expertise. And I feel that the place they’re doing it from the place is pure — for these two,” he mentioned. “These are huge fucking sneakers to fill, however they’re each fucking phenomenal gamers they usually’re each nice individuals. So I’ve acquired nothing however actually good issues to say, but it surely’s arduous for me as a result of Vinnie was my bro and I understand how he felt about it. And he did not have a say, so it is arduous.”
MUDVAYNE‘s “L.D. 50 twenty fifth Anniversary” tour kicked off on September 11 in Dubuque, Iowa and can conclude on October 26 in Uncasville, Connecticut. The tour options assist from STATIC-X, whereas VENDED is opening each present.
On September 11, MUDVAYNE launched a brand new single known as “Sticks And Stones”. The observe arrived two weeks after the discharge of MUDVAYNE‘s first new single in 16 years, “Damage Folks Damage Folks”, which has already collected over half 1,000,000 streams and counting.
“Sticks And Stones” and “Damage Folks Damage Folks” had been launched by way of Alchemy Recordings, a document label created in partnership between Dino Paredes, former American Recordings vp of A&R, and Danny Wimmer, the founding father of Danny Wimmer Presents, the premier manufacturing firm for rock music festivals in the US. Different Alchemy artists embrace STAIND and CHEVELLE.
Previous to the arrival of “Damage Folks Damage Folks”, the reunited metallers hadn’t put out any new materials since 2009, which implies greater than a decade and a half had passed by with out a single recent MUDVAYNE tune.
Photograph courtesy of Eleven Seven
