ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON FEB. 27, 1992
By Steve Newton
Would you let somebody punch you in the face for 300 bucks? Considering that knuckle sandwiches sometimes come for free, 300 smackers might not sound too bad. Then again, it depends who’s on the other end of the fist.
And whether or not dental coverage is thrown in.
According to Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, the guy getting slugged on the cover of the band’s new album, Vulgar Display of Power, received $300 for his troubles. Along with a nice, fat lip.
“All I know is that it’s some guy from New York City,” says Paul of the unidentified human punching-bag. “We told ’em exactly what we wanted, and from what I understand, the guy had ice packs on his face for two days, so…he’s really gettin’ popped. It’s a vulgar display of power, right there.”
As you may have already guessed, aggression plays a sizeable part in this Dallas band’s approach to music. And when singer Philip Anselmo’s angry-as-hell lyrics combine with the group’s brutal sonic onslaught, the result—as brave headbangers will discover when the band opens for Skid Row at the PNE Forum this Wednesday (March 4)—is one of the raunchiest noises either side of Laramie.
So what—to use one of the new album’s song titles—makes Anselmo so “Fucking Hostile”?
“There’s a lot of things that make him angry,” explains Paul, “but he’s not necessarily writing anger in a negative fashion. He’s angry and he’s expressing a viewpoint, but it’s also an anger that turns positive, you know what I’m sayin’?”
The heavy doses of anger and aggression on Vulgar Display were channeled together by Seattle producer Terry Date, who is currently working in Vancouver with New York thrash-funkers 24-7 Spyz. Date’s credits also include Mother Love Bone, Soundgarden, and Screaming Trees, but Paul says he’s not concerned about the oh-so-trendy Seattle Sound rubbing off on his l’il loud band from Texas.
“Texas has a great music scene, but it’s very unique and diversified. Every band that has come out of Texas that you know of—King’s X, Stevie Ray Vaughan, ZZ Top, Pantera—they all have a distinctive sound about ’em, whereas the bands from Seattle tend to sound like bands from Seattle, and bands from L.A. sound like L.A. bands.
“That’s the cool thing about Texas, is everybody kinda has their own feel for what they’re doin’.”
To hear the full audio of my 1992 interview with Vinnie Paul subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 325 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
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Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
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Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
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Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
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Jeff Golub, 1989
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Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
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Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
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Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
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Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
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Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Edgar Winter, 2005
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Randy Hansen, 2001
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joey Belladonna of Anthrax, 1991
Joe Satriani, 1990
Vernon Reid of Living Colour, 1988
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
Zakk Wylde of Pride & Glory, 1994
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
John Doe, 1990
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Doyle Bramhall II, 2001
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Randy Bachman, 2001
Little Steven, 1987
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