THE BEAST

In a recent appearance on the Nashville On The Rocks podcast, former Pantera manager Scott McGhee opened up about his initial encounter with Pantera and why he felt compelled to warn Skid Row about the band's formidable presence on stage.
Pantera's Impactful Debut

McGhee, who was managing Skid Row at the time, recalled the first time he saw Pantera perform. "Back in the day when Pantera was first kind of coming on to the scene, I was managing Skid Row, and we had brought Pantera on to open," he recounted. The pivotal moment occurred in New York City, where Pantera's performance left a lasting impression on him. "I saw the band play, and I’d heard their music; they were on a sister label. I’d heard the music. I was, like, ‘This is just crazy good.'"
A Stern Warning to Skid Row

Pantera's electrifying performance at Madison Square Garden prompted McGhee to deliver a stern warning to the members of Skid Row. "The band guys, a couple of the guys were all friends with one another. So they played the first night, Madison Square Garden, and I saw them play before Skid Row went on, and I went back and said, ‘Y’all better f*cking strap it on, ’cause these people are crushing it right now. Okay? So I don’t know what y’all are thinking, and I don’t know why the hell they’re out there, but they are just kicking people’s a**es.'”
A Powerful Collaboration

Despite initial concerns, the combination of Skid Row and Pantera proved to be a potent mix. McGhee reflected on the unexpected synergy between the two bands, saying, “So I just became a really big fan. And I loved the band; they’ve toured with us. And as odd as it sounds, [the pairing of] Skid Row [and] Pantera, at the time, it actually worked — it really, really worked.”
Skid Row's Desire to Tour with Pantera Again

The camaraderie formed during their early 1990s tours has left a lasting bond between the members of Skid Row and Pantera. Skid Row bassist Rachel Bolan expressed a strong desire to tour with the reformed Pantera. "We would do it in a heartbeat. Those guys are, they’re out there killing it now. And you know what? People, the purists are not happy with what’s going on, and I say screw them, because you couldn’t find two more perfect people to represent those guys and pay tribute to [late Pantera members] Dime and Vin [drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott]."
Honoring Fallen Band Members

Bolan emphasized the deep connections between the current and former members of Pantera. "They were all like brothers, first of all, and literally those guys were family. Every night at a Black Label [Society] show, Zakk wrote a song to Dime and they play it every night, and images of Dime are on stage. And Charlie and Vin were close, and Charlie and Dime were close, and it’s the perfect way to pay tribute."
Pantera's Reunion and Tour

Pantera reunited in 2022 with Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante stepping in for Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. Since then, they've been touring extensively, continuing to captivate audiences with their powerful performances. Their next show is scheduled for August 2 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

As Pantera continues to honor their legacy and forge new paths, the bond between them and Skid Row remains a testament to the enduring power of rock and camaraderie in the music industry.