In this article from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, music critic Dave Ferman offers a review of the Pantera and White Zombie concert at Coca-Cola Starplex in Dallas on July 13, 1996. Although not mentioned in this article, as it was likely kept discreet, Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo overdosed on heroin after the concert, further driving a wedge into an already fractured band.

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Pantera released their 8th studio album, The Great Southern Trendkill, in May 1996. By this time, tensions had grown in the band, with vocalist Phil Anselmo recording the album in his home state of Louisiana while the rest of the band recorded in Texas.

Nonetheless, Pantera and White Zombie embarked on a co-headlining summer tour shortly after the album’s release—the mere idea of such lies somewhere between the greatest thing ever and a recipe for certain disaster. Of the latter, it almost was. The concerts went fairly well onstage with the bands doing what they do best. But offstage? Not so much. Rising fame, increased demands, excessive partying, ongoing fatigue, and fractured relationships within the bands added to the drama.

The tour stopped in Dallas on July 13 with the bands playing at the Coca-Cola Starplex. A homecoming show for Pantera, the concert was largely seen as successful and well-received. However, after the concert, Phil overdosed on heroin. He was dead for nearly five minutes before being brought back to life. It was a low point in the band’s career, and his personal life, with it driving a deeper wedge between Phil and the others. It may have been the beginning of the end for the band, although, by this time, things were already becoming unraveled.

Phil was humiliated over the mishap, offered a heartfelt apologize to everyone, and the tour continued. They didn’t even miss a date. But the damage was done.

It would be White Zombie’s last tour as they officially disbanded two years later with Rob Zombie embarking on a solo career. Pantera hung on a little bit longer, with the iconic quartet playing their last show together in 2000.

In that hot summer of 1996, a perfect pairing of Pantera and White Zombie was evidently too much of a good thing.

“Perfect Pairing—Pantera, White Zombie are just the ticket for those angry young dudes”
by Dave Ferman
Fort Worth Star-Telegram – July 15, 1996
Newspapers.com

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 07-13-25