VINNIE PAUL: TED NUGENT's Anti-PANTERA Comments 'Really Bummed Me Out'

Jesse Capps of RockConfidential.com recently conducted an interview with former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

RockConfidential.com: Fans have been going nuts over [REBEL MEETS REBEL] for years. Was it always intended to be a project that would release CDs and tour?

Vinnie: "Oh yeah, absolutely. Before everything happened on December 8, we had finished this record and we really wanted to put it out. PANTERA had split up and me and Dime wanted to establish what we were doing with DAMAGEPLAN. We didn't want to confuse fans any more by putting out another product. We just decided to put it on the shelf. Our intentions were to put it out after the second DAMAGEPLAN CD, after we had solidified our fanbase. Obviously, we never got that opportunity. After about eight months of being in a really dark place and just trying to figure out what I was supposed to do next, it just came to me one day. This record was done. It's exactly as we finished it and people have known about it for years. Let's put it out. That's how it happened."

RockConfidential.com: Just a quick observation, but it seems that this project may have re-energized you a bit. I'm sure it's got to feel like you're still working with Dime with this release.

Vinnie: "It's been great for me, Jesse. It's really helped me get on my feet and I'm very fortunate that I was left with this. Same thing with 'Dimevision'. My brother was a total entertainer, man. He loved entertaining people. If he didn't have a guitar in his hands, he had a video camera in his hands. If he wasn't doing that he was the ring leader of the party and he made sure somebody else had the camera. He didn't film all that stuff and make all this music to go in a vault somewhere. He wanted people to hear it. That's what we're doing. We're carrying on his legacy and making it bigger and better every day. I'm really proud that we're able to get these out to the fans."

RockConfidential.com: I've heard David Allan Coe say that he loves PANTERA. Was it just the attitude that made him connect with the band or is he a fan of other metal bands, too?

Vinnie: "Oh yeah. Since he's worked with us he's written songs with KID ROCK. He's worked with UNCLE KRACKER. A lot of different people. He's just a great songwriter. He always has been. He caught the total vibe that Pantera was against the grain. We never paid attention to see if MTV or radio liked us. We were out to make music for the fans. That's the same attitude he's always had. I think we hit it of because we had that connection."

RockConfidential.com: Ted Nugent recently commented on PANTERA's version of "Cat Scratch Fever" on his message board. [See previous BLABBERMOUTH.NETstory.] Here's what he had to say: "I've never thought too highly of anyone foolish enough to take on the nickname of a life-destroying dope product and promote such family-destroying conduct on stage. Though I'm no expert on all things PANTERA, I did hear their version of "Cat Scratch Fever" and it was exceedingly white. No soul, no balls, no feel. Caucasian all the way. Elements of dope, booze and heroin disconnect quite apparent as usual. There is no excuse for such horrifically negative, irresponsible, criminal, America-wrecking behavior as such chimp-like substance abuse. Period. They appeared as Ozzy-like zombies on TV. Ya think. American drunks and dopers are allahpuke terrorists' favorite allies. Damn them. Damn them all." What do you think about that?

Vinnie: "Me and Dime met him and he was really cool. We told him about doing the cover and he seemed pretty excited about it. It took me by total shock and surprise when I saw those comments. It really bummed me out, man."

Read the entire interview at RockConfidential.com.