Rex Brown and Pantera Salute Black Sabbath at Historic Birmingham Farewell

Rex Brown showed exactly why he’s one of metal’s most dependable bassists during Pantera’s special set at Black Sabbath’s final show in Birmingham, England. The livestream, titled “Back to the Beginning,” wasn’t just a gig. It was a moment in heavy music history, with Sabbath closing things out in their own hometown.

Adding to the spectacle, actor Jason Momoa introduced Pantera before the band launched into their set. True to form, Momoa didn’t just watch from the sidelines. He jumped straight into the mosh pit, setting the tone for a wild and memorable night.

Brown brought plenty of grit and attitude to the performance, especially on Sabbath covers like Planet Caravan and Electric Funeral, the latter getting its live debut for Pantera. He didn’t just copy Geezer Butler’s parts. He treated them with real respect while adding his own weight and growl, making it unmistakably Pantera.

As always, Rex stuck with his signature Spector Euro basses, delivering the biting, muscular tone fans expect. It is the kind of playing that hits hard but stays clear, perfect for those massive riffs.

For anyone watching, it was a reminder of how much the low end matters in metal and why Rex Brown remains such a force on stage.

No Treble CEO Jody Miller is a Chicago-based bassist, guitarist, engineer, and producer best known for his bass gear demo videos and as the co-host of The Bass Nerds podcast.

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Leave a Reply to Christopher Cancel reply

  1. Christopher

    Big Fan of Rex, I saw him live in 2001 on the Reinventing The Steel Tour. I had a question about his rig and not only did Rex respond but his tech Bobby as well.