Hellyeah drummer Vinnie Paul recently spoke with Germany's EMP Rock, and he addressed the subject of why people won't leave the idea of a Pantera reunion with Zakk Wylde standing in for Paul's brother Dimebag Darrell alone:

Vinnie: "If Eddie Van Halen was to get shot in the head four times next week, would everybody be going, 'Hey, man, Zakk, go play for Van Halen. Just call it Van Halen.' You see what I'm saying? I mean, it's really selfish for people to think that, and it's stupid. It's not right at all."

Richard Whittaker at The Austin Chronicle recently caught up with Black Label Society frontman and guitar legend Zakk Wylde and discussed the same subject. An excerpt from the interview is available below:

AC: There’s was a lot of talk after you and Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown did some Pantera tracks together. There was a long time in your career when you had the shadow of Randy Rhoads over your shoulder, and then when anyone talks about Pantera getting back together, your name is in the mix. I wonder about doing those tracks and getting that rumor mill going about stepping in a replacement for Dimebag Darrell.

Zakk: "Whenever anyone asks me about the Pantera thing, it’s like Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell asking Eric Clapton if he would get together and celebrate Jimi and his greatness. Why would Eric Clapton say no? He’s one of Jimi’s friends. As far as I'm concerned, it’s a beautiful thing. You’ve got Eric Clapton up there, jamming with Mitch and Noel, singing all of Jimi’s songs and playing all of Jimi’s licks, because this is his buddy and he loves him. There’s no replacing Jimi Hendrix. Who the fuck talks about shit like that? It’s like, there’s no replacing Randy Rhoads, but you’re celebrating Randy Rhoads’ legacy and his greatness and why everybody loves him.

You don’t look at it that way. There’s no replacing Dime, and there’s no replacing Randy Rhoads, and there’s no replacing Jimi Hendrix. Even when I go out on the Hendrix Experience thing, we’re all just celebrating Jimi’s life and Jimi’s greatness, and keeping his name alive and playing his music.

As far as I’m concerned, it’s a celebration of all things Pantera. All the mountains they climbed and all the mountains they conquered, and celebrating Dime’s greatness. When Zeppelin got back together and they had Jason (Bonham) on the drums, he’s not replacing his father. He's celebrating his dad. That’s what makes it so moving. You don’t have a drummer back there, that’s his son."

Go to this location for the complete interview.