In an interview on “The Bay Ragni Show”, Bret Michaels guitar player Pete Evick was asked to weigh in on PANTERA’s recent comeback and Phil Anselmo.
Here’s what he said (via BLABBERMOUTH.NET):
“I think Phil’s a douche. I think Phil’s a douchebag. And Vinnie was my friend. Not an acquaintance — Vinnie was my friend.”
Pete continued:
“Vinnie and Dean Guitars gave that to me. It’s the 10-year-anniversary-of-Dime’s-death model guitar. They gave it to all the Dean players. I’ve been a Dean guy for 20 years or whatever.
“And Vinnie was a great producer. He understood the studio. And me and him were friends. He was great to my son.”
Pete continued:
“I think that the world deserves to celebrate the music. I believe that the only [guitarist] that should be allowed to do it is Zakk Wylde. Charlie Benante… Maybe it could have been Mike Portnoy; maybe it could have been Mikkey Dee. There’s a handful of people… Charlie’s great for it.
“It’s good that the world’s gonna hear the music. But I think that Phil’s a douche,” Pete repeated.
“And I hope he does it right. That’s all I can say, is I hope he does it right.”
Pete went on to clarify that he has never actually met Philip, “so I shouldn’t judge like that. But I knew somebody that knew him really f*cking well,” he added.