Pantera Still Hits The Metal Rockers Return With Anthrax

Friday night is for metal-heads.

Pantera returns to Spokane for the second time this year, headlining a show that opens with speed-metal masters Anthrax.

Pantera is out in support of their first sanctioned live LP, “Official Live - 101 Proof,” released earlier this year.

“We felt like after seven years of playing live that we wanted to put out a record with all our best tunes,” says drummer Vinnie Paul.

The album is a follow-up to their surprisingly successful 1996 outing, “The Great Southern Trend Kill.” Surprising in that it wasn’t ignored or otherwise dissed by the masses who had decided metal was a dirty word.

Formed in New York City 1981, Anthrax survived the hair metal years by refusing to tease. Instead of bad clothes and hair spray, they focused on speed and intensity, combining heavy metal with rap.

This Friday’s Anthrax lineup finds John Bush replacing Joey BellaDonna as the front man - just as he has since 1992.

Coal Chamber will open the show at 7:30 p.m. at the Convention Center. Tickets are $21.50, available at all G&B Select-A-Seat locations or call (800) 325-SEAT.

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