It was 2004. I had just been introduced to a ton of metalcore bands by a friend of a friend. I remember listening to a collection of Avenged Sevenfold songs from their first two releases, “Sounding the Seventh Trumpet” and “Waking the Fallen.” I stumbled across a song named “Walk”, and next to it: (Pantera cover). This is where my journey begins. I began endlessly searching through Pantera’s catalogue, and I fell in love. I then fell into heartbreak later that year after Dimebag Darrell was killed on stage. I would never get to see my new favorite band.
My parents didn’t get this deep into metal, I was always a little jealous of my friends who were earlier exposed to the wonders in 80’s and 90’s thrash metal. I just was a little sheltered in that aspect, despite my parents exposing my brothers and I to a bunch of really great music from the 70’s through the 90’s. From Led Zeppelin and Def Leppard, to Stone Temple Pilots and Pearl Jam. Thrown into the mix were flavors of punk and hiphop, so a taste for Green Day, Rage Against the Machine, The Beastie Boys, and so many others helped in my development as a music lover. It wasn’t until early 2001 where I felt like I had my real first taste of guttural screaming vocals provided by Mr. Chester Bennington, and I found a special love in Linkin Park’s first two albums, “Hybrid Theory” and “Meteora.” Despite how much I loved those records, I needed something heavier and a bit more aggressive.
I found an overwhelming boost in confidence after finding Pantera. Songs like “I’m Broken” and “Regular People” became regular tracks on mix CDs and iPod Nano playlists. I found more calmness in tracks like “Floods”, “Cemetery Gates” and the cover of Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan.” To this day, one of the only live albums I can sit and listen to in its entirety is 1997’s “Official Live: 101 Proof.” and “Where You Come From” is still a complete banger in my eyes. I even had a short stint in college after taking a guitar class where I attempted to learn how to read tabs so I could play some of their songs. (But since then I have realized I love documenting music more than trying to play it.) I even found a special fascination with the pre Cowboys from Hell records. “Power Metal” ripped pretty hard, and “Metal Magic”, “Projects in the Jungle” and “I Am the Night” are just really fucking fun. It’s okay if the band doesn’t think so, but that’s just a personal opinion.
This music gave me the courage to stand up for myself, which was pretty groundbreaking.. I had long struggled with other kids due to a number of things, but mainly I was the “weird” or “funny fat girl” in most scenarios. Something in this music flipped a switch, I remember getting more aggressive with people who were not nice to me. I remember beginning to walk a bit taller, stand up straight and more confident, and in most situations, I wasn’t going to take anyone’s bullshit. I’ve carried this with me for the last 21 years. This music literally changed my life and I’ve stood on that for all of my adult life.
Vinnie Paul was a regular at Count’s Vamp’d, a local venue here in Vegas. I met him after a show I was photographing there. Trixter in 2016. Such a cool night. But I got to tell him that his music changed my life. A moment that I will cherish until my last breath. When he passed away in 2018 that moment replayed in my mind. I was grateful I at least got to tell him the impact of that music.
Through the years I’ve been named “The Pantera Girl” in a lot of scenarios. I have a bunch of Pantera tattoos on my right leg, a huge Pantera decal on my car, and my instagram account is notably under the name “cfhcourtney”. I only made this change around the time I decided to take my photography more seriously, though. My original online presence had the name “xfuckinghostile”, and it was a really good way to find other Pantera fans, or metal fans in general. Those who got it, got it. And that was the goal.
Fast forward to the present day. I never outwardly vocalized my thoughts on Pantera’s renewed line up. Mainly because everyone has an opinion and I just don’t care enough to fight with people over what they think about it. This music is important to me, and I think it should be played and heard by the masses. Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante are wonderful musicians in their own respect and I’ve enjoyed following them along on this journey. I was already following Phil Anselmo and Rex Brown. I was fortunate to see Phil play Pantera sets here in Vegas with The Illegals, once in 2018 at Backstage Bar and again in 2019 when they opened up the show for Slayer’s final campaign. Sometimes it’s hard not to be biased, since I am such a huge fan. But even from an objective point of view, I felt the music was done justice and it sounded great.
So, with all of that, how do you think I reacted when I saw the tour flyer for later this summer!? I practically screamed in joy! I had been hoping since the renewed lineup was announced and I repeatedly said that if they didn’t come to Vegas, I would travel for them. Named, “The Heaviest Tour of the Summer”, with Pantera headlining, and added support with the ever mighty Amon Amarth, who are also absolutely incredible. Just two bands listed, but man… there is no doubt in my mind that it will be quite the event. And it’s at T-Mobile, which is a perfect venue for this bill, I think.
As I mentioned above, I have seen Phil Anselmo perform Pantera with The Illegals twice. It was a glorious experience for me as a fan. All I know is that missing this would be the biggest regret of my life. No matter what happens, I’ll be there! Pantera hasn’t played Las Vegas since 2001, according to their official website’s tour date history. That’s a long fucking time so this is for sure going to be explosive and monumental!
For the fans.
For the brothers.
See you in the pit, Vegas.
Links to purchase tickets & VIP Meet & Greets will be live on Pantera.com/tour
7/15/2025 Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake
7/17/2025 Detroit, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre
7/19/2025 Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre
7/22/2025 Cincinnati, OH Riverbend Music Center
7/23/2025 Cleveland, OH – Blossom Music Center (Date Change – All tickets honored)
7/25/2025 Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium
7/26/2025 Wantagh, NY – Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater
7/28/2025 Saratoga Springs, NY – Broadview Stage at SPAC
7/29/2025 Gilford, NH – Bank NH Pavilion
7/31/2025 Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center
8/02/2025 Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center
8/03/2025 Hartford, CT – Xfinity Theatre
8/06/2025 Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater
8/07/2025 Minneapolis, MN – Target Center
8/20/2025 Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/22/2025 Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre
8/23/2025 Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater
8/26/2025 Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
8/27/2025 Inglewood, CA – Kia Forum
8/29/2025 Las Vegas, NV – T-Mobile Arena
8/31/2025 Albuquerque, NM -Isleta Amphitheater
9/02/2025 Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater
9/03/2025 Dallas, TX – Dos Equis Pavillion
9/05/2025 Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center
9/06/2025 St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
9/08/2025 Birmingham, AL – Coca-Cola Amphitheater
9/10/2025 Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater
9/11/2025 Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Park at Walnut Creek
9/13/2025 West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre