Yhdysvaltalaisessa metalliyhtye Hellyeahissa vuosien 2006-2018 välisen ajan yhdessä edesmenneen Pantera-rumpalin Vinnie Paulin kanssa vaikuttanut Mudvayne-solisti Chad Gray on kertonut tuoreessa The Jesea Lee Show:n haastattelussa oman mielipiteensä Panteran paluusta. Grayn mukaan hän joutui useasti yhdessä Vinnie Paulin kanssa vastailemaan Pantera-aiheisiin kysymyksiin erilaisissa haastatteluissa eikä Grayn mukaan Vinnie Paul olisi koskaan eläessään antanut lupaa Panteran soittaa keikkoja bändin nimen alla. Gray kertoi aiheesta seuraavaa:
“I know what it is, and I know some levels of the intention are true and pure. But I also know, from sitting in on a million fucking interviews with Vinnie Paul […] there was always some clown interviewer setting himself up for failure, being like: ‘So, what’s the deal with all the mutterings we’re hearing about the Pantera reunion?’
Vinnie would literally go, ‘My brother’s dead.’ That’s all he’d say and they wouldn’t say another fucking word. That’s the way Vinnie thought about it: Pantera was done because his brother was dead. When I hear that, and I hear how passionately he said that, and I know how much he meant it – he didn’t care! Vinnie didn’t need the fucking money. Vinnie’s whole heart was in HELLYEAH.”
“Thank you for allowing me to say my piece about where I’m at with it. I hope that people understand that I was best friends with one of the fucking men that made that band happen. He was never behind it, man. He was just never behind it, so it’s hard for me, because I have a lot of respect for Vinnie Paul and I have a lot of respect for Dimebag Darrell.
It’s cool. Let it be the tribute thing, or whatever, but really question how much longer it goes and what else happens with it. Make sure we’re giving love and respect to those two fallen brothers, man.”
Artikkeli Chad Grayn mukaan Vinnie Paul ei olisi koskaan hyväksynyt Panteran paluuta julkaistiin ensimmäisen kerran KaaosZine.
