Some of heavy metal’s most legendary moments were never properly documented.
They lived in backstage conversations, tour bus stories, and fading memories from the people who were actually there.
Now, longtime Texas metal figure Jerry Warden is bringing many of those stories back into the light during a recent appearance on The Zach Moonshine Show on Metal Devastation Radio, delivering a rare, firsthand account of the early Dallas/Fort Worth metal scene that helped shape bands like Pantera and Rigor Mortis.
For over an hour, Warden reflected on decades spent inside the Texas underground as a promoter, radio host, club operator, and founder of Warlock Texas. Today, he also serves as the founder of the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame, continuing his mission to preserve and document heavy metal history from the inside out.
THE STORY BEHIND THE JAMES HETFIELD AND DIMEBAG DARRELL JAM SESSION
One of the most talked-about moments from the interview centered on the legendary photographs of James Hetfield and Dimebag Darrell trading guitars during an intimate, early-era jam session that has circulated among fans for decades.
Warden claims he was present for the event and offers a rare perspective on what actually happened that night.
According to Warden, the gathering was not just a casual hangout, but a full-on onstage moment involving members of Metallica and Pantera, including James Hetfield, Lars Ulrich, Dimebag Darrell, Rex Brown, and others, performing Metallica songs in a spontaneous session captured by photographer Stuart Taylor.
Following the interview, Warden also shared a rare photograph he says shows him participating during the historic jam, adding another layer to one of heavy metal’s most widely discussed behind-the-scenes moments.
METALLICA IN TEXAS DURING THE RIDE THE LIGHTNING ERA
Warden also recounted early interactions between Metallica and the Texas metal scene during the Ride the Lightning era, describing nights of music, camaraderie, and unexpected collaborations that helped strengthen bonds between emerging and established metal acts.
He also discussed early connections involving Rita Haney within that circle, offering personal recollections from a scene where relationships between bands were shaping the future of heavy metal culture.
BEFORE COWBOYS FROM HELL: THE EARLY DAYS OF PANTERA
Long before Pantera became a global force in heavy metal, Warden says he worked closely around the band during their formative years in the early 1980s.
He recalls first meeting them in 1982, helping organize shows, working alongside the band as part of their extended crew, and witnessing their evolution from local Texas act to international metal powerhouse.
Warden also reflects on the transition period that led to Pantera’s heavier direction, including conversations surrounding Phil Anselmo’s arrival and the shift that would eventually define the band’s landmark sound on albums such as Vulgar Display of Power.
BUILDING THE DFW METAL UNDERGROUND
The interview also highlights the raw, pre-internet era of building a music scene from scratch.
Warden describes organizing large-scale backyard shows that drew over a thousand fans, helping launch early metal clubs across the Dallas/Fort Worth region, promoting underground bands, and contributing to one of Texas’ earliest heavy metal radio platforms.
Many now-legendary musicians passed through those early environments, forming a tightly connected underground that would later explode onto the global stage.
PRESERVING HEAVY METAL HISTORY
Today, Warden continues his work through the Heavy Metal Hall of Fame, an initiative focused on preserving the legacy of heavy music and recognizing the artists who helped shape the genre.
Throughout the interview, he emphasized the importance of documenting these stories while the original participants are still able to share them firsthand.
As interest in metal history continues to grow, conversations like this serve as living archives of a scene that helped define multiple generations of heavy music.
STREAMING NOW
The full interview with Jerry Warden is now available on The Zach Moonshine Show via Metal Devastation Radio.
This episode offers a rare deep dive into the early Texas metal underground, featuring firsthand accounts of Pantera’s early years, Metallica’s Texas connections, and one of the most talked-about jam sessions in heavy metal history.
Listen now and explore a side of metal history that rarely gets told directly from those who lived it.
Listen to the full show with music and track listing:
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