Culture
Pantera’s heaviest tribute yet: for Dime, for Vinnie, for Ozzy
By: Bradley Cunningham
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CINCINNATI, Ohio (WOUB) – I came to Pantera’s Heaviest Tour of the Summer expecting a night of moshing and iconic guitar riffs.
I didn’t expect to be a part of heavy metal history. Hours before the gates of Riverbend Music Center (6295 Kellogg Avenue) had even opened, the world learned that Ozzy Osbourne–the godfather of heavy metal himself–had passed away. And here, in Cincinnati, Ohio, a band with deep ties to Ozzy and Ozzfest was preparing to take the stage.
The air felt different. Ozzy’s songs echoed from the parking lot to the concession lines. Everywhere you looked, fans of all ages were paying tribute–from grizzled metal veterans in their sun-faded Ozzfest shirts to teenagers sporting fresh Black Sabbath patches sewn onto their denim vests. Even Ozzy’s iconic music videos lit up the jumbotrons in a glowing eulogy.
This made the night more than a tribute to the late Pantera members–it became a memorial for the spirit of heavy metal. The band’s return to the stage has always carried emotional weight. Dimebag Darrell, Pantera’s original trailblazer on guitar, was tragically shot and killed on stage in Columbus, OH, in 2004. Vinnie Paul, the original groove engine on drums, passed away in 2018.
With longtime friends Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society) on guitar and Charlie Benante (Anthrax) on drums, the band is now celebrating their legacy for a new generation of fans with power and purpose.
Each band on the bill carried that weight differently for the Ozzman–from S.N.A.F.U.’s rush of underground thrash to the Viking war cries of Amon Amarth to Pantera’s full-throttle set.
S.N.A.F.U. hit the stage first. Their set was unrelenting–pure, angry-eyed adrenaline. Tracks like Bloodletter evoked early Sepultura with a tenacious modern edge. Their blend of speed, aggression, and punk had me headbanging behind the lens of my camera. At one point, I caught myself making the unmistakable “stank face” during a breakdown–a sure sign they hit their mark.
Amon Amarth hit the stage next with a theatrical design of Norse mythology. Their drum riser was shaped like a Viking helmet, flanked by two massive statues wielding axes and Viking attire. The stage was a fully realized display of myth and might, ideally suited to the band’s look and battle-ready setlist. (Editor’s Notw: Johan Hegg talked with WOUB Culture in 2023, check out that interview here.)
Their set of percussive, anthem-driven songs marched through the venue. Frontman Johan Hegg stood before his army of fans to lead a toast during the song Raise Your Horns, altering the chorus to: “We will drink to Ozzy tonight.” Hegg opens it with the truth, “The guy is a legend. He’s why I’m here, why we’re here. Why are you here?”
The time had come for the headliner: Pantera. A massive banner was draped over the stage as the Cowboys From Hell demo intro blasts through the speakers. Vintage clips of the band’s early days lit up the jumbotrons, paying tribute to the legacy of the late Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul.
This version of Pantera lives to honor the past. The chemistry between original members Rex Brown and Phil Anselmo and brotherly stand-ins Charlie Benante and Zakk Wylde was undeniable. Charlie pounded the drums with Vinnie’s precision and spirit. Rex held it down with precision and low-end might. Zakk shredded behind a curtain of hair and tribute, letting every note scream with emotion. Phil, in his power stance, roared in his signature baritone–a voice with equal parts pain, pride, and power.
The band opened with Hellbound–a deep cut they have not played since 2000, and launched into an impressive light and pyrotechnics display synced to a setlist of fan favorites such as Walk, 5 Minutes Alone, This Love, and Cowboys From Hell. Fans will remember this tour for also being treated to rare cuts, including 10’s, a melancholic song from The Great Southern Trendkill that had yet to be played until this tour. The song carved out a moment of eerie stillness–the slow, melancholic tension was a stark contrast to the rest of the set.
Another standout moment came during Goddamn Electric, when frontman Phil Anselmo wielded Dimebag’s favorite axe of lightning–The Dean From Hell–paying tribute in a memorable and personal way to his fallen brother.
Pantera’s rendition of Black Sabbath’s Planet Caravan–a staple in their live shows–carried an unimaginable weight. Where the band once played it as a nod to their heavy metal ancestors, tonight it felt more like a eulogy.
The large screen behind the band faded to a montage of old photographs, capturing their long, intertwined history with Ozzy. Zakk Wylde closed the song with an explosive improvised solo, roaring with both grief and reverence. For a man discovered by Ozzy at the age of 20 and played with him for decades, this wasn’t just a performance–It was a farewell to a mentor, a brother, and a godfather of the heavy metal world.
Phil addressed the crowd with raw emotion: “Everything we do is for Dimebag and Vince… and now we do it for Ozzy F*cking Osbourne.”
The venue erupted–chants of “Ozzy,” rock and roll horns raised high, and tears streaked down the faces of fans who knew they were a part of something bigger than just a show.