Cutter of Envision Radio Networks‘ “Hangar 19” recently conducted an interview with former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN and current HELLYEAH drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott. Asked what would have to happen to get him and ex-PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo to sit down and talk again, Vinnie said: “I just don’t have any interest in it, man. I’m happy doing what I do, I’m enjoying being in a band where everybody really enjoys being around each other, likes each other. And I just don’t have any interest in living in the past, man. I wanna move forward in my life and that’s all there is to it.”
Late PANTERA guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott‘s longtime girlfriend Rita Haney in 2011 called on Vinnie Paul Abbott and Anselmo to settle their differences in honor of Dimebag, who was shot and killed by a crazed gunman while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at a Columbus, Ohio rock club in December 2004.
Vinnie, who is Dimebag‘s brother, and Anselmo have not spoken since PANTERA split in 2003. But the relationship got even more acrimonious when Vinnie indirectly blamed Philip for Dimebag‘s death, suggesting that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag‘s killer.
In a recent interview with Brazil’s Wikimetal podcast, Anselmo was asked about the possibility of a PANTERA reunion with Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) filling in for Dimebag on guitar. “Honestly — and I’ve spoken with Zakk about it as well — we’re very aware of the public perception out there, but honestly, until I speak with Vinnie Paul, which has not yet happened, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, nothing can happen,” he replied. “Honestly, I tell you, my phone is on the hook, my e-mail is wide open, my door is wide open. I would love to talk with Vince. Honestly, if there were no more bad feelings and we could talk, and we could come to an understanding, I think it would mean not only a lot for me and myself — it would mean the world to me — but it would mean a great deal to the fans out there as well. I think people don’t want to see this arguing anymore. It’s time for some peace. It’s time for some brotherhood. And honestly, we should be setting an example instead of being the opposite. And I’ll just say that my door is wide open, and so far, Vinnie‘s door is closed, and it’s a shame.”
Source: www.blabbermouth.net