It isn’t easy filling in for a member of a legendary group – especially one with such diehard fans as Pantera has.
Just as Charlie Benante, who says he’s been fending off a deluge of hate messages ever since he agreed to man the drum kit for Pantera’s reunion tour. “I don’t go looking for things online,” Benante says.
“There’s people who send me negative comments, and I’m like, ‘Why did you send me this?’ Why ruin my day?’”
The drummer goes on to say some people may be under the misconception that negative comments roll off celebrities’ backs.
“I think these people who make these comments, I don’t think they realize how much of an effect they can have on people,” he says. “Whether or not you hate the situation, why can’t you find some sort of restraint? I’ve never seen more of it in my life than I’ve seen in these past couple of months of people judging.”
