Rex Brown

Rex Robert Brown, born on July 27, 1964, is an American musician best known as the longtime bassist for the heavy metal band Pantera. He joined the band in 1982 and, after their reunion in 2022, became the longest-serving member. Brown has also played with other bands, including Down from 2001 to 2011 and Kill Devil Hill.

In 2017, Brown released his first solo album, Smoke on This..., where he played not just the bass guitar but also sang and played the electric guitar. This was a new role for him besides being a bassist.

Brown also wrote a book titled Official Truth 101 Proof, published in April 2013. The book tells the story of how Pantera started, their successes, and why the band split up. It gives fans a closer look at the history of one of the most famous heavy metal bands.

Early life

Rex Robert Brown was born in Graham, Texas on July 27, 1964. His father passed away when Rex was young, so he was raised by his mother and sister. Music came into his life thanks to his grandmother, who taught him to play the piano and introduced him to different kinds of music, like ragtime music and the work of Scott Joplin.

Rex was part of the Boy Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Growing up, he loved listening to bands like ZZ Top and Def Leppard. He started playing the bass guitar when he was just twelve years old. Other musicians who inspired him include Rush, Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, and hardcore punk.

Career

Pantera

Main article: Pantera

Pantera started in 1981. Rex Brown joined the band in 1982 to play the bass guitar. He replaced a player named Tommy D. Bradford and used the name “Rex Rocker” at first. Rex went to high school with the band’s drummer, Vinnie Paul, and guitarist Dimebag Darrell. He used the name “Rex Rocker” for the first four Pantera albums: Metal Magic, Projects in the Jungle, I Am the Night, and Power Metal. Starting with the fifth album, Cowboys from Hell, he used his real name.

In 1986, Pantera got a new singer named Phil Anselmo. Their album Power Metal came out in 1988. In 1989, they signed with Atco Records and released Cowboys from Hell in 1990. This album helped Pantera become very popular. In the 1990s, they released four more albums: Vulgar Display of Power, Far Beyond Driven, The Great Southern Trendkill, and Reinventing the Steel. They were even nominated for four Grammy Awards!

In 2001, Pantera took a break, and in 2003, they officially stopped working together. But in July 2022, it was announced that Rex would join Phil Anselmo and others for Pantera’s first world tour in 22 years in 2023.

Down

Main article: Down (band)

In 1998, while living in Louisiana, Rex was asked by Phil Anselmo to join a jam session that later became the band Down. Rex played the bass for Down’s second album, which came out in 2002. The band took a break after that but got back together in 2006 to make their third album, Down III: Over the Under. They toured with Metallica. Rex left Down in 2011 to try other music projects.

Other work

In 1999, Rex worked with country singer David Allan Coe on an album called Rebel Meets Rebel. He has also played bass for other bands like Crowbar and Cavalera Conspiracy. In 2011, Rex formed a new band called Kill Devil Hill. They released their first album in 2012 and continue to perform. In 2013, Rex wrote a book called Official Truth: 101 Proof about his life with Pantera. In 2017, he released his first solo album, Smoke on This…. In 2023, he played bass for a metal group called Elegant Weapons.

Personal life

Rex Brown does not follow any specific religion, but he believes in God and the Ten Commandments.

In August 2009, Brown had to leave a tour because he was very sick. He had surgery to remove part of his gallbladder and some growths on his pancreas. After this, he recovered and is now in good health. In June 2023, Brown married his longtime girlfriend, Elena Henrard.

Playing style

Rex Brown was a jazz bassist and had the chance to study at the University of North Texas, but he chose not to go. He usually plays with a pick and protects the tips of his fingers with tape because he uses slides.

Brown is known for creating special basslines that go well with Dimebag Darrell’s guitar solos. Some famous songs he played on include "Floods", "Walk", "5 Minutes Alone", "Throes of Rejection", "Cowboys from Hell", "Living Through Me (Hells' Wrath)", "I Can't Hide", "Use My Third Arm", "Where You Come From", "This Love", and "I'm Broken".

Endorsements

Rex Brown has used many different bass guitars over the years. He played Charvel guitars on albums like Cowboys from Hell and Vulgar Display of Power. Later, he used Jackson and Fernandes basses before endorsing Spector guitars. In 2011, a special bass was made just for him by Stuart Spector.

In 2022, Gibson made a special Rex Brown Signature bass based on the Gibson Thunderbird with a slimmer neck and an extender for drop D tuning. As of 2025, he uses a Kemper Profiler.

Discography

See also: Pantera discography

Collaborations

In 1998, Rex Brown worked with Jerry Cantrell on the album Boggy Depot, contributing to songs like "Dickeye", "My Song", "Keep the Light On", "Satisfy", and "Hurt a Long Time". In 2008, he also joined Cavalera Conspiracy for their album Inflikted, playing on the track "Ultra-Violent".