ANTHRAX and PANTERA drummer Charlie Benante is the featured visitor on the most recent episode of “Steel Sticks”, the not too long ago launched podcast hosted by Nicko McBrain, the long-lasting drummer of IRON MAIDEN for 42 years, not too long ago retired from touring, and Fashionable Drummer CEO David Frangioni. Within the first of a two-part collection the place Nicko and David sit down with Charlie, Benante opens up about what it means to honor his late pals Vinnie Paul Abbott and “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott by stepping behind the equipment for PANTERA — a job he approaches with deep respect and gratitude. He additionally dives deep into his drum gear journey, geeking out with the hosts about his setup and sound.
Requested how he landed the gig with PANTERA, Charlie stated (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): “I used to be very, very near them all through the years and particularly near Darrell, Dimebag. And I believe Philip [Anselmo, PANTERA singer] and Rex [Brown, PANTERA bassist] actually needed to do one thing once more with the legacy that that’s PANTERA and simply rejoice the life and the music of them. Philip referred to as me and stated, ‘Would you be into doing this?’ And so they did not need anybody else [to play drums]. It was at all times me that they needed to do that, which I felt very honored by that. And I simply jumped at it, and I am, like, ‘Sure, I wanna do that.’ As a result of the love that goes again for me with these guys, it goes again an extended, very long time in the past. I imply, I met Darrell and Vinnie — God, like, 1985. So we have recognized one another since then. And I simply liked listening to that I used to be the one selection that they needed for this place.”
Reflecting on his reside debut with PANTERA, Charlie stated: “The primary present we did was Mexico Metropolis. That was December of ’22, I consider. Man, [I] was so nervous. And this, as a result of enjoying Mexico Metropolis, they’re so passionate there. When MAIDEN performs, it is similar to a religious occasion. So I used to be very nervous. It was 52 levels exterior. We had been freezing. The intro got here on and began, and I am simply, like, ‘Okay, that is it. Let’s go.’ After which as soon as we kicked into the primary track, I sort of settled down. However , man — the primary present of a tour, you are jittery. You simply do not know what to anticipate. After which I used to be so pleased that I simply sort of settled in and simply sort of rode it out, and it was simply lovely.”
Requested by Nicko if he had numerous rehearsal time with the opposite guys in PANTERA earlier than they performed their first present, Charlie stated: “Yeah, for me, what I did, as quickly as I knew I used to be doing it, I took, like, 4 songs, and each week I’d strategy 4 songs, simply engaged on these 4. Subsequent week I’d do the subsequent 4, as a result of I simply needed to know each little nuance that Vinnie performed within the songs. And numerous occasions I used to be overplaying; I used to be doing far more than I must be doing. A superb good friend of mine, Thomas Lang, I used to be with Thomas and I used to be speaking to him about it, and I am, like, ‘I really feel like I am overplaying.’ And he listened and he is, like, ‘Yeah, you might be. You are overplaying. It is extra easy than you assume it’s.’ In order that sort of put me in a distinct way of thinking after which I simply began to circulation and simply discovered Vinnie‘s little nuances and simply his little methods that he would do. And that was it. As a result of an important factor is I needed it to sound like PANTERA. I did not need it to sound like me enjoying PANTERA. I needed, when individuals closed their eyes, [I wanted them to think], ‘Oh, it appears like PANTERA.’ And that was my purpose.”
Again in March 2024, Charlie spoke to What We Did On The Weekend about his resolution to have a minimum of 4 kick drums on stage whereas he’s performing with PANTERA. He stated on the time: “Principally, let me provide you with a bit of background on that. If there is a fan, child, no matter, all the best way throughout the sector, or wherever we’re enjoying, and he sees the drums, and it simply seems to be large. So after I was youthful and I’d go see VAN HALEN, KISS, no matter, it was big; it was bigger than life. It made an impression on me. And it is sort of what I wanna do; I simply wanna blow it up massive. Darell, that was his factor: fucking blow it up. So after I had the thought to do the 4 kick drums, and we had been, like, ‘Fucking go away it. It seems to be cool.’ In order that’s it. I want I had smoke popping out of my drums.”
Again in December 2022, Benante, who has spent greater than 4 a long time enjoying in ANTHRAX, instructed Jonathan Montenegro‘s “My 3 Questions To” collection about how lengthy it took him to be taught the PANTERA materials that he’s presently performing throughout the reformed band’s run of exhibits: “I do know these songs, and, in fact, I’ve liked these songs for thus a few years. For me, I knew the songs, however perhaps a few of the songs I did not know the little particulars within the songs, so far as the drum elements went. So I actually began to dissect every track and strategy it that approach. I’ve seen Vinnie play these songs so many occasions, however typically whenever you report a track and you then begin to play it reside, it begins to tackle a distinct — it turns into one thing totally different typically whenever you play it a reside approach. So typically they’d even velocity it up a bit. So I used to be attempting to get these songs to a spot the place it is virtually within the center — someplace just like the studio model and someplace just like the reside model. As a result of whenever you’re enjoying reside, the adrenaline is pumping. You are human, and we’re not enjoying to a click on or something. So I at all times needed to maintain that groove going, ‘trigger Rex and I, we take a look at one another and we really feel and we join. And the connection he had with Vinnie is similar kind of connection that I wanna have with him.”
It was first reported in July that Anselmo and Brown would unite with guitarist Zakk Wylde and Benante for a world tour below the PANTERA banner.
The band headlined a variety of main festivals throughout North America, South America and Europe and staged a few its personal headlining excursions. In addition they supported METALLICA on large North American and European stadium excursions in 2024 and 2025.
Benante instructed “Trunk Nation With Eddie Trunk” about how he ready for the PANTERA reside performances: “After I talked to Philip again in — it was, like, the top of December [2021] about this, that day, I hung up the cellphone and I instantly began to get my head into PANTERA mode and simply determine issues out. As a result of I knew these songs, however I did not know the right way to strategy enjoying the songs, how I am gonna do that. And the one factor I needed to do is I simply needed to play it like Vinnie. When the followers hear it, when anyone heard it, I needed them to have the ability to shut their eyes and I needed it to sound like Vinnie.”
Charlie additionally talked about his musical chemistry with Rex, saying: “That is the factor. I did not know the way we’d sort of come collectively and after we would make the connection. However I’ve gotta be trustworthy with you, after I went right down to New Orleans in September [2022] and it was simply me, Rex and Philip. And after the primary day, Rex and I, we had such a connection, and he stated to me, he was, like, ‘Dude, after I shut my eyes, I really feel prefer it’s Vinnie up there.’ In order that made me really feel so good when he stated that. And Philip stated the identical factor too. So I used to be so pleased about that. As a result of, truthfully, I actually did my homework. We’re speaking these tiny little nuances — issues that perhaps individuals would not hear — I am placing ’em in there as a result of it is necessary to me to ship it similar to Vinnie would.”
As for his drum setup for the PANTERA present, Benante stated: “It is a completely totally different configuration [to what I play with ANTHRAX]. I am enjoying extra like Vinnie‘s equipment, the best way Vinnie performed it. I needed to play a equipment like that as a result of it gave me a bit extra of a problem. And I am unable to add extra drums to it, as a result of I simply needed to have the 2 toms within the entrance — ground toms — so I am simply sticking completely to the best way he had it, and I wanna play it precisely like he had it and it sounds precisely how he had it too. In order that’s how I strategy this.”
Charlie went on to say that he would not perceive all of the detrimental feedback which were directed at him and the opposite members of PANTERA for attempting to maintain the band’s legacy alive.
“This was by no means a reunion,” he defined. “How can it’s a reunion with out Vinnie and Dime right here? Generally individuals will ship me one thing, and I see issues on-line, and it is so disrespectful to each Darrell and Vinnie, and it’s very disrespectful to us too. And it is simply, like, ‘Man, for those who do not wanna come, you do not have to return.’
“One of many first issues I stated to Philip on the cellphone, I stated, ‘This, to me, is extra on an emotional degree than any different degree.’ This implies rather a lot to me personally, to go on the market and signify these guys and signify the PANTERA title,” he continued. “And that is all I would ever need for me. I do not care about it financially and stuff like that; this, to me, I had to do that. I did not wanna see anyone else enjoying these songs however me up there.”
Reflecting on his preliminary dialog with Anselmo about collaborating within the reformed PANTERA, Charlie stated: “I used to be so enthusiastic about it. I stated, ‘Thanks for pondering of me.’ And so they had been, like, ‘There was no one else.’ And that made me really feel actually good. As a result of they knew my relationship with Darrell they usually knew my relationship with Vinnie. And I liked these guys, and I like these two guys simply as a lot.”
Up till his passing, Vinnie remained on non-speaking phrases with Anselmo, whom the drummer not directly blamed for Dimebag‘s dying.
Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they shaped DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, whereas performing with DAMAGEPLAN on the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA had been stealing his ideas.
Vinnie handed away on June 22, 2018 at his different residence in Las Vegas on the age of 54. He died of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged coronary heart, in addition to extreme coronary artery illness. His dying was the results of power weakening of the guts muscle — principally which means his coronary heart could not pump blood in addition to a wholesome coronary heart.