Rex Brown Will Miss 2022 Pantera Shows While Recovering From COVID

Following Rex Brown’s absence from the lineup during their Knotfest Chile performance on December 11—two replacements were chosen—Pantera has released an update.

Brown declares that he has COVID-19 and will miss the rest of the band’s 2022 performances before coming back in the following year.

“Thanks to all of our fans and everyone at Knotfest Chile for an amazing show,” a post reads on Pantera’s Facebook page, which also included numerous images from the 12-song set where bassists Bobby Landgraf (ex-Down) and Derek Engemann (Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals, Scour, former Cattle Decapitation) both assisted in holding down the bottom end for the evening.

Brown has recently informed his followers that he “acquired a very weak strain” of the COVID virus. On December 11, South American radio station Futuro claimed that Brown had tested positive for the virus. The bassist will be absent from Pantera’s final 2022 performances because of concern for the well-being and safety of his bandmates and road crew as well as because of the band’s “own protocols.”

I’m feeling better and am on my way to a speedy recovery,” the bassist adds, reassuring fans of his health while exclaiming, “Merry fckn [sic] Christmas and see you all next year!”

Thanks to all of our fans & everyone at Knotfest Chile for an amazing show.

Thanks to Derek Engenmann & Bobby Landgraf for handling bass duties last night.

A note from Rex: ‘I caught a very mild strain of Covid, but because of our own protocols, I simply do not wanna risk getting my brothers or the crew sick!! I’m feeling better & am on my way to a speedy recovery. Merry Fckn Christmas & see you all next year!’

Brown skipped yesterday night’s (Dec. 12) headline performance in Santiago, Chile, and he won’t be present for the performances on Dec. 15 and 18 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He’s scheduled to tour with Pantera again in 2019; performances in Europe are scheduled from late May through early July, followed by gigs in the United States and Canada to round off the year.

Metallica will headline a tour in the summer of 2023, playing two nights at each location, and Pantera will be one of the special guests. There will be new openers every night.