In this video from Gibson TV’s YouTube channel, Pantera bassist Rex Brown reflects on the band playing in Moscow in 1991. Despite Pantera still being relatively unknown at the time, they performed in front of the largest audience they would ever see in their careers.

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“A bar band from Texas,” as Brown recalls, Pantera had just released their major label debut album, Cowboys From Hell. Word of mouth helped album sales, and the band slowly graduated to playing larger shows, mostly as an opening act.

While recording their next album, Vulgar Display of Power, Pantera were invited to play the Monsters of Rock festival in Moscow, opening for The Black Crowes, Metallica, and AC/DC. It was a free concert, announced shortly before it occurred, and in the midst of the Soviet Union’s dissolution. Attendance estimates vary wildly, but it’s generally believed that over 500,000 people swarmed into Tushino Airfield, making it one of the largest concerts in history. The concert was at the right place at the right time, where forbidden music, youthful angst, and political change merged into an unforgettable and historic moment. And although Pantera played earlier in the day to a ‘smaller’ crowd, it was a huge opportunity for an up-and-coming band.

“You better dig in,” Brown recalled saying upon seeing the massive crowd and knowing what was at stake.

The concert proved to be a pivotal moment in the band’s career, after which their popularity would soar.

When Pantera dominated Monsters of Rock festival, Moscow, 1991
Gibson TV – YouTube Channel

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 10-15-25