rexbrownbookFollowing their meteoric rise and subsequent domination of mainstream metal in the ‘90s, Pantera’s early to mid ‘00s implosion came as somewhat of a shock. From a fan’s perspective it was a vague chain of events, seemingly initiated by the September 11th European tour cancellation, followed by the re-emergence and ascension of Down mark II. The only point at which it became clear that Pantera was truly on the backburner, however, was when the Abbott brothers finally put out their own musical riposte to Anselmo and Rex Brown’s NOLA project in the form of 2004’s nu-metal-ish Damageplan debut. From recollection, it was around this point that the verbal shit-slinging began, and evidence of the metal juggernaut’s true inner turmoil was laid bare. The low point obviously coming in that December 2004 issue of Metal Hammer, with Anselmo’s frankly unbelievable quotes plastered across the front of it. A mere week or two later, and Pantera’s finality was completed with the tragic death of Dimebag Darrell (and three others) in Columbus, Ohio.

The funeral of Dimebag is more or less where this book begins. And a bizarrely tragic scene it is too, recounted from the perspective of one of the only four guys who actually knew what was going on behind the scenes in Pantera. As the first of the remaining three band members to offer his side of the story, bassist Rex Brown is perhaps the most intriguing of the bunch to lend insight into what happened. While he acknowledges that his perspective is just that – one person’s interpretation, this book does provide credible answers to some of those many questions which have divided fan opinion over the last decade or so.  Structurally, we are offered a chronological account of Rex’s life from its start in 1964 to the present.  From his family life in rural Texas – which saw its own share of personal tragedy – to his current band, Kill Devil Hill, the narrator combines frankness with an easily identifiable rebellious attitude to draw the reader in. One of the most interesting aspects from the start in fact is the self-assuredness that this most enigmatic member of Pantera reveals.

While some remarks contain more than a trace of self-aggrandisement – success in numerous spheres of existence, violent tendencies etc – more than a few of these instances are backed up by other people. Even when they are not directly corroborated however, the majority still feel like they have a grain of truth to them due to the narrator’s general approach. Phrases like ’stumblin’ and grumblin’’ to describe a particular state of drunkenness, and turning ‘pure shit to solid gold’ imply what a salt of the earth guy he is. The assessments of his former band mates are so blunt that it is impossible to believe that they are anything other than honest personal appraisals. Naturally they will be the most controversial and talked about aspect of this book. Without wanting to spoil the content of them, Phil Anselmo receives some deservedly unsympathetic treatment for his drug habits/related behaviour, while Dime comes across as exactly what any fan would expect: a musical genius and a top bloke whose antics could occasionally be too much.

Vinnie Paul’s portrayal, conversely, is more than likely to come as a complete shock. Pretty much from the start (including the opening funeral context), Vinnie is treated as a subject of immense difficulty. Although the viciousness afforded to him from the early days initially comes from leftfield, the further you read on, the more apparent it becomes that Rex’s interpretation of the past is completely coloured by all their years spent together (and, I suspect, VP’s refusal to deal with either him or Phil over the last few years). From images of a selfish, stubborn idiot to Ron Jeremy with a microscopic… success rate with the ladies, poor old Vinnie is bashed quite a bit aside from a final sentiment of empathy thrown his way. Elsewhere, we learn what Pantera’s experiences were like from the very early days through to their stardom, and ultimate demise: why they had to conform image-wise to the Texan club circuit before ‘Cowboys from Hell’; what the trappings of eventual fame brought individually and collectively; and how these, as well as relentless scheduling drove the band apart.

It’s not all doom and gloom though. For anyone familiar with the home videos, how could it have been?? Along the way are stories of the road, not to mention a few hilarious cameos from other musicians. Among the funniest of these are an encounter with Ozzy’s nuts, and Rex’s initial, nasal impression of David Allan Coe. On the other hand, there are the shared experiences that were lived with his Pantera band mates, like the momentous 1991 Moscow Monsters of Rock concert and various tours all over the world. A personal favourite is Rex’s brief mention of the band’s appearance at Donington in 1994 – my first Pantera live experience – which again, comes in the context of another surreal but amusing anecdote. Throughout the story, it appears that Rex was very much the middleman of the band (as confirmed in witness statements from the likes of Walter O’Brien and Rita Haney), and the one who tried to keep Pantera alive until it simply became too much. As you get to the end, it finally transpires how a mix of circumstances conspired to halt the band.

Overall, what shines through is Rex’s ability to combine articulate words and thoughts with a humorous matter-of-factness. When it comes to the crunch though, like when he addresses/dismisses the blame ascribed to Anselmo for having a hand in Dimebag’s death, the author provides a sober assessment, and one I’m inclined to agree with. Perhaps most touching of all – aside from reflections on Dimebag Darrell – is the toll that this lifestyle has had on Brown’s personal life. The very human aspect to this account is what makes it a success, and is credit to the collaboration between Rex and Mark Eglinton. They have brought Pantera to life once again and pretty much ended the speculative limbo which has faced every fan since December 8th 2004. In fact I can’t recommend the book highly enough to people who love Pantera, provided they don’t mind being confronted with the flawed nature of this legend’s parts. For anyone else, it’s sure to be an interesting read.

(Jamie)