Lamb of God's Chris Adler Steered Vinnie Paul Away From Pantera Reunion

Lamb of God drummer Chris Adler never wanted Pantera to reform, and he was sure to let Vinnie Paul know it.

In a recent conversation on the Talk Is Jericho podcast with Chris Jericho, Adler said that he discussed the idea with Paul years ago, telling the legendary drummer that a reunion without Paul's late-brother "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott wouldn't be right. 

While Paul had a rocky relationship with Pantera bassist Rex Brown and reportedly never again spoke to frontman Phil Anselmo following the band's 2003 break-up, rumors of a reunion followed the drummer for years. Many fans believed guitarist Zakk Wylde (a longtime friend of Pantera) would be a worthy proxy for Darrell, assuming Paul, Brown and Anselmo could ever patch up their differences.

Adler says he discussed the idea with Vinnie Paul "at length," though he's not really sure if his opinion changed anyone's mind.

"...[Pantera is] celebrated by the fact that it's over; it's celebrated by the fact that we all remember it well with the appropriate pieces to the puzzle," he said.

"There's a chemistry you have as a band, and sometimes in my band, it can become tumultuous, it can become difficult, and sometimes those things, actually, are beneficial in ways that push each other creatively and kind of get around the obstacles," Adler said.

He added that he doesn't know the full story behind why Pantera fell apart, but he always thought that Pantera should forever be remembered as its classic lineup. No reiteration would be "capable of creating the chemistry necessary to put on a show that Vinnie and his brother did."

Adler later called Paul "the last good guy," complimenting the way he and his brother made people feel at home whenever they were around.

"I've never met anyone like either of them," he said.

Vinnie Paul was buried last Saturday in Arlington, Texas, beside his mother and brother. 

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