Here are some interesting facts about longtime bassist for "Pantera" - Rex Brown:
(Photo: Christian Petersen)
= He was was born on July 27, 1964 in Graham, Texas, USA as Rex Robert Brown.
= Brown was first introduced to music by his grandmother, who taught him to play the piano when he was a child.
= Brown started playing Bass guitar when he was 12.
= His first influences where "Van Halen", "ZZ Top", "Def Leppard", "Black Sabbath", "Led Zeppelin", "Sex Pistols" and "Ramones".
= Brown said that when he first heard "ZZ Top" he was driving his bicycle, about 8-years-old, and he heard "La Grange" and something just happened. He said lost my mind.
= He said that There’s nothing like their album "Tres Hombres" and there never will be.
= Brown was a classmate of drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, and guitarist Dimebag Darrell. He played in the high school jazz band with them.
= In 1982 He joined "Pantera", then a heavy metal band founded by brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott.
(Photo: Revolver Magazine)
= He replaced Tommy D. Bradford and adopted the alias "Rex Rocker".
= In 1983 "Pantera" released their first album, "Metal Magic", which featured Brown (Rex Rocker) on bass.
= In 1988 "Pantera" released their fourth album "Power Metal", shifting towards a heavier sound. This album marked a turning point for "Pantera" as it introduced Phil Anselmo as their lead vocalist.
= In 1990 "Pantera" released "Cowboys from Hell", their breakthrough album, which became a cornerstone of groove metal, showcased their new sound and direction.
= It was the first album where Brown started to be credited by his birth name. Rex Brown’s bass lines on tracks like “Cemetery Gates” and the title track cemented his status as a prominent bassist in the metal community.
= Brown was notable for often contributing walking basslines underneath Dimebag Darrell's guitar solos, like on "Floods", "Walk", "5 Minutes Alone", "Cowboys from Hell", "This Love", "I'm Broken" and more.
= Rex Brown incorporates elements of funk, blues, and metal into his playing. His unique approach to the instrument has influenced countless bass players.
= In 1992 "Pantera" released "Vulgar Display of Power", which solidified their place in metal history.
= In 1994 "Pantera" released "Far Beyond Driven", which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
= In 1996 "Pantera" released "The Great Southern Trendkill", showcasing a darker, more aggressive sound.
= In 2000 "Pantera" released "Reinventing the Steel", their final studio album.
= Pantera disbanded in 2003 following internal conflicts and Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott's decision to form "Damageplan".
= In 1998 Brown was featured on five tracks on Jerry Cantrell's album "Boggy Depot".
= In 1998 Rex Brown was invited by Phil Anselmo for a jam session that included all the members of "Down" except their bass player Todd Strange.
= Brown became a member of the band releasing two albums with them - "Down II: A Bustle in Your Hedgerow" from 2002 and "Down III: Over the Under" from 2007.
= In 2011 Brown left "Down" to focus on other musical projects.
= In 1999, Brown, Dimebag Darrell, and Vinnie Paul Abbott teamed up with country artist David Allan Coe in a project called "Rebel Meets Rebel". This group released an album on 2006.
= He played on eleven tracks on the "Crowbar's" album "Lifesblood for the Downtrodden" from 2005.
= He has also provided bass work for "Cavalera Conspiracy" in 2008.
= In 2011 Brown formed "Kill Devil Hill" with former Dio drummer Vinny Appice. The band released their self-titled debut album on 2012, and their second album, "Revolution Rise" in 2013.
= In 2013, Brown released an autobiography, titled "Official Truth: 101 Proof".
= In 2017 Brown released his first solo album, "Smoke on This...", showcasing his skills as a vocalist and guitarist.
= In 2023, he played bass on the debut album of the the metal supergroup "Elegant Weapons".
= In July 2022, it was announced that Brown would be joining Anselmo, along with Zakk Wylde and Charlie Benante, for Pantera's first world tour in 22 years starting in 2023.
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