Pantera covered every song on GNR's Appetite For Destruction

A picture of Vinnie Paul
Vinnie Paul (Image credit: Getty)

Vinnie Paul says Pantera covered every song on Guns N’ Roses’ Appetite For Destruction before they hit the big time.

The former Pantera and current Hellyeah drummer says that before they signed their first major record deal, Pantera were obsessed with Guns N’ Roses’ 1987 debut album and covered all 12 tracks.

Paul tells WRIF (via Blabbermouth): “It was huge, man. Before Pantera got a record deal, that album came out, and we covered just about every song on that record and it was before that band blew up.

“We were such fans of the music. And it took that record about a year before it caught on, and then it caught on. Man, it’s one of my all-time favourite records. To this day, Welcome To The Jungle, you hear it in front of every football game, in front of every hockey game, it won’t go away.

“And that’s a great thing when there’s a song that has that kind of life. And then, of course, they’re back doing it and they’re touring. I saw them the other night at the big, gigantic here in Dallas, and I thought it was amazing.”

Paul says that the reunited GNR lineup sees Rose performing better than he has in years.

“I’ve seen Guns many, many times, and I’m telling you, this is the best I’ve ever seen Axl,” he says.

“He’s really spot-on, and he’s really singing great. And Slash doing his solo thing for so long, he’s always had his chops up to par. So it’s great to see those two really at their A-game with these songs again in 2016.”

Guns N’ Roses are currently on the road on their Not In This Lifetime tour.

Guns N’ Roses remaining Not In This Lifetime tour dates

South America

Oct 27: Lima Estadio Monumental, Peru
Oct 29: Santiago Estadio Nacional, Chile
Nov 01: Rosario Estadio Rosario, Argentina
Nov 04: Buenos Aires River Plate Stadium, Argentina
Nov 08: Porto Alegre Estadio Beira-Rio, Brazil
Nov 11: Sao Paulo Allianz Parque, Brazil
Nov 12: Sao Paulo Allianz Parque, Brazil
Nov 15: Rio de Janeiro TBC, Brazil
Nov 17: Curitiba Pedreira Paulo Leminski, Brazil
Nov 20: Brasilia Estadio Nacional, Brazil
Nov 23: Medellin Estadio Atanasio Girardot, Colombia
Nov 26: San Jose Estadio Nacional, Costa Rica

Japan

Jan 21: Osaka Kyocera Dome,
Jan 28: Tokyo Saitama Super Arena
Jan 29: Tokyo Saitama Super Arena

New Zealand

Feb 02: Wellington Westpac Stadium
Feb 04: Auckland Western Springs Stadium

Australia

Feb 07: Brisbane QSAC Stadium
Feb 10: Sydney ANZ Stadium
Feb 14: Melbourne Cricket Ground
Feb 18: Adelaide Oval
Feb 21: Perth Domain Stadium

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Stef wrote close to 5,000 stories during his time as assistant online news editor and later as online news editor between 2014-2016. An accomplished reporter and journalist, Stef has written extensively for a number of UK newspapers and also played bass with UK rock favourites Logan. His favourite bands are Pixies and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. Stef left the world of rock'n'roll news behind when he moved to his beloved Canada in 2016, but he started on his next 5000 stories in 2022.