Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story of Pantera
Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story of Pantera book cover

Official Truth, 101 Proof: The Inside Story of Pantera

Hardcover – March 12, 2013

by
Price
$49.33
Format
Hardcover
Pages
259
Publisher
Da Capo Press
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-0306821370
Dimensions
1 x 7 x 9.75 inches
Weight
1.14 pounds

Description

“Rex Brown has long since taken the ‘voice of reason' mantle in the ever-fracturing post-Pantera camp. Though he's the group's least public member, he's the most fit to write a memoir on the experience. Brown pulls no punches in his yarn, nonchalantly discussing the spandex-clad inception, multiplatinum explosion and untimely demise of the ‘90s' most definitive metal band. Most compelling are his unflinching looks into the band members' individual demons, which never come off as antagonistic or gossipy, but genuine attempts at ‘telling it like it is'…As the murder of one Dimebag Darrell becomes more and more distant, no other publication has come this close to truly exploring the impact and meaning of what this band meant to the heavy metal landscape, and for that, Brown's work shouldn't go unnoticed, and is highly recommended.” PowerlineMag.com, 4/27/13 “Pantera's fans will enjoy this up close and personal look at the band, especially those interested in hearing how the band's classic records came together.” Examiner.com, 4/30/13 RidgewoodPatch.com 3/11 “A compelling read.” SonicExcess.com, 3/12: “Offers a perspective from the eyes of the silent member of Pantera. Often humorous, tragic, brutally honest, and always entertaining…A must read for any fan of Rock, Metal, and Pantera… Official Truth is similar to the music of Pantera, no compromise with no room for bullshit.” SkullsNBones.com, 3/12 “ Rex holds nothing back and really invites you into his Pantera world like never before…Now with this new book, we understand a little more about one of the most historic bands to ever walk this planet…A very blunt and honest read that will definitely get people talking in the metal scene…A must read for all metal fans.” Examiner.com, 3/12 “Will appeal not just to fans of Pantera and heavy metal, but anyone interested in a look at that time in music.” Horns Up Rocks , 3/12 : “[A] very honest piece of literature…Not only is it a great read, but it will open your eyes about how the music industry works.” TheGauntlet.com, 3/13 About.com Heavy Metal “Brown pulls no punches in the book…The behind the scenes story of Pantera is fascinating…There have been a lot of books written about Pantera, but Brown provides insight an outside author simply can't…It's a very well-written and compelling book.” Music As Therapy blog, 4/14/13 “Offers a very inside look at the band that we were never afforded the opportunity to voyeur into back in the day…Straight up, if you're a Pantera fan then read the book, you'll enjoy it…A satisfying read. As a fan of Pantera I couldn't put the flippin' thing down.” Bass Guitar magazine, May 2013 “Rock star autobiographies are everywhere these days, some of them great, some less so. Official Truth, 101 Proof…falls easily into the former category. Brown…waited years to tell his tale, but the wait has been worth it…Official Truth recounts the formation and rise to prominence of Pantera, as well as the stories of Brown's later bands Down and Kill Devil Hill, with unflinching courage, offering a new perspective on the chaos within those bands.” SLUG (Salt Lake Under Ground) magazine, May 2013 “The journey of the rise and fall of one of the biggest bands in heavy metal history…An honest account of what transpired during [Brown's] years in Pantera.” Rich Stambolian, 3/15 “Gives you insight to the real world of Pantera and makes no qualms about it…An extremely honest look at the behind the scenes of one of the biggest bands of all time. [Brown] pokes a few holes into the fabric of our perception of band life and what being a rock star is all about…If you are a fan of Pantera and road stories then you should definitely pick this book up. It will make you laugh, choke you up, and blow your mind with the reality of what some of your favorite personalities are really like.” MTVHive.com, 3/18/13 “Wildly entertaining.” Boston Phoenix , 3/20/13 “'No holds barred' and ‘warts and all' are typical qualifiers when it comes to rock-and-roll memoirs, but rarely do they fulfill the promise. Which makes it all the more refreshing when something like Official Truth, 101 Proof comes along. Pleasantries are dispensed sparingly in this unflinching, and often biting, but also affectionate portrait.” Dallas Observer , 3/18/13 “Rex takes readers into the familiar world of the Rock Star, where rivers of whiskey flow like cash pouring into the band members' bank accounts…Rex's memoir delivers to fans what the bassist intended: a behind the scenes look at the events that led to the downfall of one of America's greatest rock bands. It's full of conflict, raw emotion and backstage antics.” Loudwire.com, 3/21/13 “An unflinchingly honest look at the group, from their earliest beginnings to the ending moments and the things which have happened since then…The first official statement on Pantera and the legacy of the group from a band member.” NoTreble.com, 3/21/13 “Describing the book as ‘starkly honest' almost seems like an understatement as Brown details his ride with anecdotes on events and the characters involved in the band's story.” MediaMikes.com, 3/18/13 “A gritty in your face tale from the man who lived it…Here is your chance to get whole truth and nothing but…Candid, brutally honest, and at times shocking Rex Brown touches on everything and pulls no punches while doing so…From start to finish a great read.” North Coast Voice , 3/20/13-4/3/13 issue and The Cleveland Sound , 3/21/13 “A candid, unpretentious autobiography from one of rock's modern day survivors—a southern-fried, fist-pumpingly fun read.” Alternative Control blog, 3/22/13 “A great read about one of the best metal bands of all time.” Houston Press , 3/29/13 “A tell-all history of the band…The most comprehensive insider account of Pantera's rise and fall.” BackstageAxxess.com, 3/24/13 “Brown gives us the inside story in his new book…It's a great read.” FullMetalRock.com, 3/24/13 “This is the real deal inside story, from the man himself, who was there and lived it…A no holds barred account of the rise and fall of Pantera…It is all covered here straight up…A must read for any fan of Pantera or Rock and Metal.” Every Day is a New Day blog, 3/28/13 “The story of one of the craziest party bands of all time…This book was an eye opener…If you've ever been into Metal music, I'd say this is required reading.” The Metal Den, 4/8/13 “Hands down the most brutally frank rock memoir you will ever read in your life…This is a cautionary tale (beware of the ‘hangers on') that will make you laugh out loud and wipe away a few tears at the same time.” Hard Rockin' Homemaker, 7/29/2013 “A notable and refreshing change from the vast majority of other memoirs I've read.” MetalKaoz.com, 9/7/13 “I enjoyed every page of Official Truth, 101 Proof and learned a ton of stuff about this band.” HeavyMetalICU.com, 9/9/13 “The pages of this book will flip fast and when you get to the end you just wish there was more…As you read this book, I DARE you not to think you're sitting right across from the guy sharing each moment…Rex tells the story from his side of the stage and his seat in the bus with dignity and no machismo or chest beating on how great they were…This is the first autobiography I've read truly deserving of 6 out of 5 stars! Yeah it goes one higher than all other ratings.” BlueCoupe.com, 9/26/13 “Official Truth is a proper rock biography, but it's not for the faint of heart…If you ever thought the world of a rock god was sexy and golden, read Official Truth and think again.” AOL Music's Noisecreep.com , 3/6/13 “A warts and all look at Brown's journey from small town Texas music geek to platinum-selling, arena-filling rock star. Besides the insightful, and always colorful, Pantera stories included throughout Official Truth, Brown also comes clean about his own personal battles with drugs and alcohol.” SkullsNBones.com, 3/6/13 “Rex is completely honest and forthcoming in this book, and it's a major insight to one of the most influential bands of all time…A must read!” The Aquarian , 3/13 “Offers the shocking insight into one of the most influential and extremely popular metal bands to ever reach the annals of heavy metal history!... Fans of Pantera and Rex Brown will love this book!” BackstageAxxess.com, 3/10: “Rex's story is both honest and brutally real…Rockstars are often put on a pedestal and made to seem larger than life. Rex Brown gives us the other side of the story. His heartfelt account tells us the good, the bad, and the ugly, making Official Truth, 101 Proof much more than just a book about a rock band. It is a tale of friendships made and friendships lost and the triumphs and tragedies along the way. Dust off your bookshelf and clear some space. You're going to want to add this one to your collection.” John Shelton Ivany Top 21 “Definitive…This is a lucid account of the previously untold story behind one of the most influential bands in heavy metal history, written by the man best qualified to tell the truth about those incredible and often difficult years of fame and excess.” WomanAroundTown.com, 5/28/13 “A book detailing the highs and lows of super-stardom.” Curled Up With A Good Book “No one was closer to the heart of the band than Brown. He was there from the beginning and relates the ups and downs with an unabashed honesty…A book about one of the most original metal bands ever.” Illinois Entertainer , 7/1/13 “[A] tell-all.” Soho Tribune, 6/22/13 “A poignant and heartfelt account of life in a monstrous heavy metal band…Read the book. It's like finally getting the quiet kid in class to open up.” GhostCultMag.com, 7/12/13 “The book has an easy-going style, and doesn't seem to be ghost-written like so many other tomes of this sort...If you are a fan of Pantera or ‘90s metal in general, this book is essential reading.” Metal Hammer “A no-holds-barred insight into the mind of someone who became known as ‘the drunk guy in Pantera,' which is some feat.” “If you are looking for dirt or something shocking, its all there as Rex didn't pull any punches and told it how it was including the bad times as well. If you are a fan of Pantera or if you just like a good biography I recommend this book because it will not disappoint.” Record Collector (UK), Issue 414 “Brown recounts his life in parallel to Pantera's story, exploring his addiction to alcohol in courageous detail and pulling no punches when it comes to explaining the band's split and its tragic aftermath. He ascribes the various fallings-out to each of the personalities involved, without leaving anyone (including himself) blameless. Kudos to the guy for digging deep into a set of obviously painful memories to get this book done, and to his co-writer Mark Eglinton for focusing Brown's recollections into an eminently readable memoir.” Decibel , June 2013 “Revealing…Brown deftly explains why Pantera's music works…This book won't interest the casual Pantera fan. But are there any casual Pantera fans?” Metal Forces , March 2013 “Official Truth, 101 Proof sugarcoats nothing.” Rex Brown was born in 1964 in Graham, Texas. He joined Pantera in 1982. He has also played with Down and Kill Devil Hill.Mark Eglinton is a Scottish author, based mostly in the U.S. As well as being a friend of Rex Brown's having spent time on tour with Down in 2010, he's the author of James Hetfield: The Wolf At Metallica's Door (IMP, 2010) as well as being a frequent and highly acclaimed contributor to The Quietus – a popular culture website voted Best Website by Record Of The Day as well as being hailed by multiple publications including The Guardian , The Times , The New York Times , and Chicago Time Out .

Features & Highlights

  • Few heavy metal acts survived the turmoil of the early 1990s music scene. Pantera was different. Instead of humoring the market, the band instead demanded that the audience come to them by releasing a series of fiercely uncompromising, platinum albums, including
  • Vulgar Display of Power
  • and
  • Far Beyond Driven
  • —two #1 albums that, like Metallica's
  • And Justice for All
  • , sold millions of copies despite minimal airplay.Rex Brown's memoir is the definitive account of life inside one of rock's biggest bands, which succeeded against all odds but ultimately ended in tragedy when iconic lead guitarist Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott was murdered mid-performance by a deranged fan.This is a lucid account of the previously untold story behind one of the most influential bands in heavy metal history, written by the man best qualified to tell the truth about those incredible and often difficult years of fame and excess.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(651)
★★★★
25%
(271)
★★★
15%
(163)
★★
7%
(76)
★
-7%
(-76)

Most Helpful Reviews

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A Huge Letdown

Full disclosure first: Pantera is easily one of my Top 5 favorite bands of all time, and from the early to mid-nineties it provided me with the perfect soundtrack for dealing with frustration and proudly waving the metal flag at a time where most of my beloved 80s idols either wussed out or disappeared from the face of the Earth... what I'm trying to say here is that since Pantera is a huge deal for me, in theory, I should love this book, and that's what makes me so uncomfortable, because I don't, and I find it very disappointing.
Some reviewers have pointed out that the main flaw in this book comes from the fact that we're reading one member's point of view, but I don't find that especially bothersome.
Most Pantera fans (me included) consider that the band's early break up was a consequence of Phil Anselmo's drug problems, personality issues and side projects. While Rex doesn't outright contradict that position, he seems to give Vinnie Paul's difficult personality and the accumulated grind of more than a decade of endless touring a much more prominent role on the band's demise. Obviously, it would be incredibly stupid for me to contend Rex's version since I wasn't there, but he does go out of his way to make Vinnie Paul look bad at every possible opportunity, which can be the result of both sour grapes and unresolved issues between those two.
That said, Rex clearly states at the beginning of the book that he tells only his side of the story and his interpretation of the events as they unfold, with no real pretense of objectivity, so nobody can fault his honesty: in fact, the book includes a lot of snippets wrote by other important players in the Pantera story (most notably, Phil Anselmo and Rita Haney, Dimebag's lifelong girlfriend) which give a different angle on the particular incidents Rex is commenting. Said snippets also give Phil an invaluable opportunity to share with the fans the pain he suffered after Dimebag's death and his forced absence on his bandmate's funeral, so nobody can really accuse Rex of being exploitative or unsensitive.
My main issue with the book is how sparse and underdeveloped it is. The incredible story of three musically gifted Texan misfits who, after struggling for years as a local band meet an incredible frontman from New Orleans and become one of the most popular heavy metal bands in history, achieving platinum sales with no radio or MTV support at a time when their music was considered dead and buried commercially takes barely two thirds of a 300 page, large type, double space book!
Also, the most of the story is told in a confusing, rambling style (I find it hard to believe there was a professional writer helping Rex with this), so most of the time, really interesting or important issues are barely touched, like Vinnie and Dime's father role in shaping the band's early years and the bad blood over royalties the band had with him that almost ended up in a lawsuit. Even trivial anecdotes seem badly underwritten: for example, Rex mentions that at one point, while trying to work out his relationship with his wife during a vacation "things" got out of hand and they both ended up in jail. Now, I don't expect a sordid late 80s Osbournes / mid 90s Lees tale of domestic violence, but I would've appreciated a little more details there... was this a case of drunk and disorderly conduct or a serious incident?
So that's my main beef with this book: instead of giving you a clarifying, insider's perspective on the Pantera story it actually raises a lot of questions that aren't fully answered. Maybe if this book was about 50 pages longer and a little more focused on telling the story of a band's rise to heavy metal dominance and it's tragic downfall, it would've been much more valuable... as it stands, it's just a disappointingly lame, underwritten rock bio that even hardcore Pantera fans like me will find barely amusing.
52 people found this helpful
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An Embarrassment

I've read quite a few rock bio's and this one is just comical in how self serving and ridiculous it is. Rex tries to paint everyone else as a total jerk except himself but he unwittingly exposes himself left and right. The fact that some of these statements made it onto the page without someone second guessing them is amazing to me.
I'm not sure but I'm guessing this book might break a record for how many times he says "f#$$ing" in it, it makes him sound SO stupid, but don't worry, he's not. Rex will tell you several times how he is smart lol.
Vinnies a jerk, and fat and stupid and arrogant
Phil's a jerk and junkie
Eddie Van Halen's a jerk
Dime and Vinnie's dad is a jerk
Jerry Cantrell doesn't feed his dog because he's too strung out.
But Rex? Aww he's cool man, he's got "the 'tude" and when he walks in a room people pay attention...all he has to do is give "a look"

Rex brags and brags about spending money on dope and booze and high stakes golfing games and then literally a few pages later tells us all how relieved he was when his mother died because it was "getting kinda pricey for me and my sister to pay for her home care"

He brushes over the recording process, he puffs up his own contributions to the music and makes only brief statements where he acknowledges Vinnie and Dime for doing what I'm sure was most of the writing of the music.
Now, I know that sometimes people rip on their band mates to garner attention for their book, to kick up dust and interest and maybe that's what some of this is.

Anyway, I found myself feeling embarrassed for the guy,even though he seems hell bent on embarrassing everyone else, any sane person will see through all that and realize that in the end, the book is an embarrassment in and of itself.

If you know a Pantera fan, don't give them this book because it's gonna make them sad.
29 people found this helpful
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Let me save you $15

Here is the Cliff's Notes version of Official Truth:

- Rex is really smart, and good at lots of stuff including music, business, and golf.
- Dime was stupid but Rex loves him because he's like a brother. And, y'know, the whole murder thing.
- Vinnie is stupid, fat, and horrible with women.
- Phil was a junkie and is not as strong/tough as he portrays himself. He only got clean because Hurricane Katrina drowned all of the heroin in New Orleans.
- Did I mention that Vinnie is stupid and fat? And that Rex is essentially a combination of all of the best aspects of Warren Buffett, Jaco Pastorius, and Jesus Christ?

When I mentioned to my friend that I was buying this book, his response was "....Rex? Oh, isn't he the dude always in the back hidden in the shadows of every t-shirt/poster/music video/etc? Why would I care what he had to say?". I wish I had listened to him.

Don't waste your money and time on this narcissistic fluff piece of a book.
20 people found this helpful
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Loved it!

I really loved every bit of this book, and am thrilled Rex wrote it. I was (and still am) a huge Pantera fan. Dime was the first "famous" person I ever met, when I was 17 years old and honestly the nicest dude, kind to all. I had the pleasure of being lucky enough to meet the band (minus Phil) several times over the years, and the things Rex recalled rang 100% true to what I witnessed as a fan and a lucky bystander sometimes.

I loved reading about their tour with Skid Row and how they used that opportunity to win fans over - that's honestly how I heard them in the first place, when I saw them open for Skid Row. I was totally enthralled and what they brought to metal was so different. Heavy, yet melodic.

One time when I met Rex he was so trashed he was swaying on his feet. Some girl came up to him and popped her boob out of her shirt and asked him to sign it, and drunk as he was he managed to slur "my wife probably wouldn't be happy about that, but I'll sign your ticket for you." That really impressed me, honestly, and I really saw him as the stand up guy and the gentleman of the group. I don't think the way he presented himself in the book was anything but the truth. Very bummed to read his marriage didn't work, however.

Also, I had to laugh about the parts about watching Vinnie try to get laid, because one time he came on to me super heavily and told his "bodyguard", "give her my pager number (remember, this was the 90s)," like he was some sort of badass stud. Embarrassing. I can't imagine night after night of the guys having to watch him try to score, once was enough for me. Haha.

I was never "in" with the band, just lucky enough to meet them multiple times, as they were so accessible and kind to their fans.

Appreciated Rita's input, too.

Rex, you are awesome, thanks so much for this book and your honesty... Reading it helped me relive my own great memories of those years and the music.
15 people found this helpful
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Official Truth 101 Proof

"You've seen the movie Some Kind Of Monster? What happened to METALLICA was not dissimilar to what happened in PANTERA," explains bassist Rex Brown in his new book. The 260-page hardcover was co-authored with Mark Eglinton (who wrote James Hetfield: The Wolf At Metallica's Door), and features a forward by Dug Pinnick of KING'S X. Also contributing passages throughout are: Rex's sister, original Pantera singer Terry Glaze, the late Dimebag Darrell's girlfriend Rita Haney, former managers Walter O'Brien, Guy Sykes and Kim Zide Davis, as well as producer Terry Date, among others. This all-encompassing memoir begins with Rex's childhood, in which he had grade nine algebra class with Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, and was selling drugs out of the Fotomat kiosk at age 17; a self-described "hoodlum." Pantera released their debut, Metal Magic, in 1983, and when Rex looks back at that period in time, he comes across rather cocky: "I didn't really need to practice. The only reason I was there was for everyone else's benefit." The extent to which Rex speaks disparagingly of the Abbott brothers is rather upsetting: "Vinnie was... a complete liability." "Dime wasn't the most intelligent of guys." "Vinnie didn't have any kind of style or sense of class, none whatsoever." "Dime pissed me off so many times I can't even count." "It was so awkward watching Vinnie's pathetic attempts to get laid." And that's just a small example of the barbs constantly being thrown. Vocalist Phil Anselmo is not immune to the mudslinging either: "Phil is 20% brilliance / 80% nonsense." That being said, there is a particularly hilarious story of Rex trying to teach Vinnie and Phil how to ski in the Swiss Alps. Rex also fesses up about his substance abuse: "The problem with weed is that it really (messes) with your whiskey drinking." He later admits, "A lot of my alcohol dependency can be traced back to when relations in Pantera became very stressful." Ultimately Rex was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and had his gallbladder removed. And of course - December 8th 2004 - the night Dime was murdered on stage by a deranged fan is dealt with. "It shook me profoundly," states Rex. "All the petty (stuff) that had plagued us seemed completely meaningless... Life got harder after Darrell's death. I still think about him every single day. If my words have been critical, I do have a lot of empathy for his brother." Rex's tenure in REBEL MEETS REBEL, DOWN, and his current band KILL DEVIL HILL are also discussed. Completing the package is 16 glossy pages of black and white photos. In closing, Rex admits, "I'm not a saint, nor have I ever aspired to be one. I've simply tried to shine some perspective and insight onto my life so far."
13 people found this helpful
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May give you a bad taste in your mouth about Pantera

Just finished this book. Rex did him self no favors here. If he wasn't stabbing Vince in the back, he was either blowing his own horn or blowing Phil. Its disappointing how much crap he talks about other people.
11 people found this helpful
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Solid read

What set this autobiography apart from other rock 'n' roll memoirs is Brown's down-to-earth and comparatively 'polite account' of his dealings with his bandmates and others. Brown's criticisms, though sometimes sharp, are measured and humbly made, when compared to other books of this genre.

TO BE CLEAR: 'Official' will likely be controversial - as shown by some online reviews - despite Brown's measured tones, but that's to be expected with any (auto)biography about popular performers and those they have dealt/performed with.

If you're looking for a sex-heavy, sleazy rock bio, this IS NOT the book for you (stick to the Mötley Crüe or KISS books). If you're looking for a book that's mildly entertaining, drama-free, music-appreciative and (seemingly) honest in its rock 'n' roll outlook, it's a good read. The only other rock (auto)biography I've read that was this pleasant and, again, polite, is Sammy Hagar's [[ASIN:B00BVKUAWG Red: My Uncensored Life in Rock]] (co-authored with Joel Selvin).

Check this out from the library before you purchase it for full price. That way, if you're a die-hard Pantera fan who can't stand hearing criticisms of any of its members or its output, you won't have wasted any money - and hopefully, too much time - on "Official Truth, 101 Proof".
7 people found this helpful
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Rex Explains it All....

I took an interest in the book due to me being a Pantera fan back in the day and I currently still listen to the music...I will always be a Pantera fan til the day I die. Before reading the book, I wanted to read Rex' tales and point of view about the band and about his life. Rex was always the seemingly quiet member of the band and I didn't know much about his family roots or musical background. In the beginning portion of the book, you learn about his family upbringing..both of his parents dying when he was young and having an older sister who helped raise him. He was in a jazz band in school where he met Vinnie and he was granted a scholarship to attend a prestigious music college but didn't accept it. I enjoyed reading his explanation of how a lot of the guitar riffs from the songs from the Cowboys from Hell album were derived from old blues tunes. I don't want to give too much away about the book, but it's an overall good read...not the best but it's still good.
6 people found this helpful
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The One Sided Truth: 101 Proof Rex Dislikes Vinnie Paul

I wanted to read this after the hype died down and was surprised how many people seem to miss much of the message here. Rex is perhaps as convincing as he his because he believes firmly in his version of the story, but based on the truth he presents, he should really look in the mirror at his role in everything. It's not the tell all book I was hoping for, it's clear Rex picks and chooses his stories, and what he covers selectively is to paint the picture he wants. A picture where somehow doing incredibly stupid things, he is somehow smarter than everyone else. It's also quite clear how Rex had just as much to do with the rift in Pantera, why the years went by without a reunion before Dime's death, and why there will probably never be a Pantera reunion of the surviving members. Phil has gotten so much criticism toward all of this. The negative attention on him is well deserved; however, Phil has also answered and owned up to his mistakes numerously over the years. Rex seems to truthfully lay things out, yet he doesn't quite get his role in why things played out as they did.

Most interesting is his problem with Vinnie Paul. Based on what Rex tells, he makes it sound like Vinnie was the only guy trying to hook up with women on the road, and because of his partying, Rex found it necessary to start riding on Phil's bus that left the brothers alienated on the other bus with the band divided. Between this and his desire to spend time away from Pantera to work on projects like Down, he had as much to do as Phil as for as why Pantera had been shelved, which led the Abbots to do Damage Plan. Rex never misses a beat to bring up anything he can to cut Vinnie down and embarrass him. Rex also mentions a number of things to make both of the Abbots seem as dumb as a box of rocks and just plain lame during their formative years. The funny thing is Rex brings up plenty of examples of things about himself that could be highly criticized, though Rex somehow excuses himself, and doesn't see them in the same light as how they apply to the other members. Ultimately it seemed Rex had a problem with Vinnie's interest in his rockstar lifestyle, especially where it concerned his activities on the road with the ladies. Rex even admits himself how focused Vinnie was in the studio, willingness to do interviews for the band, and seemed to be the most mature and overall together of the members despite his partying. From where I stand, I would much rather tour on Vinnie's bus "trying to get laid" with his "1 out of 7" success rate as Rex put it, over being with he and Phil on the junkie bus. Rex admits to assaulting people from interviewer's "asking stupid questions" to a tour guy "stealing his beer." As bad as Phil was addicted to drugs, Rex was as bad with his alcoholism. Not to mention his examples of his reckless behavior of losing money and getting locked up because of some argument or situation with his wife that he doesn't go into.

Compared to other books like this, Rex mentions little concerning details with his wife and kids, even though it's clear there are problems in the on and off relationship situation. I find it very hard to believe he spent all sorts of time playing golf, while having little if any groupie interaction. It seems a lot is avoided just to come off as not such a bad guy to his present lady and kids. The irony is it's not that Rex doesn't remember things, as other's will confirm. Rex has a clear memory as shown by his account of a skiing trip the band was on, which he goes into and even drags out for no other reason than to cut Vinnie down. Rex even gives an example of when Phil wasn't such a badass on that trip. The more I read the less I liked Rex and the more I like Vince.

I understand a lot more why Vince feels the way he does now. I would like to see the day he and Phil talk since Phil has owned up to his role in everything and has even gone as far as saying "he'd let Vince beat him up" if that's what it takes just as long as they could talk afterward. Rex clearly doesn't see the roll he played in all of this and after his book, I wouldn't be surprised if Vinnie never speaks to Rex again. Overall not a bad book, but it could be a lot more detailed and fair across the board. It definitely sheds light on the band and why the situation remains what it is. I really hope Vinnie Paul puts out a book and can't wait for it to hit the shelves. If nothing else Rex has made sure that Vinnie's book will be a bestseller just with the anticipated response to Rex's accusations and alone.
5 people found this helpful
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TRAINWRECKASAURUS REX is delusional & in denial.

Rex's book is all over the place.

Mostly Rex is in delusional denial over the fact that Rex & Phool AssElmo walked away from Pantera as early as 1996 & only came back to tie up loose ends with the album REINVENTING THE STEEL & the early terminated tour to follow.

Rex will not deal with the wall of Proof that Rex & Phool AssElmo indirectly were instrumental in the demise of D.D.L.Abbott.

The book starts with how Rex thought he was not being treated like a Star enough at the funeral & goes downhill from there.

This is a sad book by a very sad Boy who knows he has done wrong & ruined his own ride to Stardom & Historical relevance.

Pantera followers will buy this book regardless, This review is for the people who missed the whole Pantera story.

You'll laugh more than you learn from reading this book of Rex's, Of how Alcohol will retard a person's maturity rate & Rex has a long way to go on that front.
4 people found this helpful

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