Dimebag Darrell Remembered
By Revn Kevin
I had just barely finished my review of Damage Plan when people at work started talking about the shooting of a musician somewhere in Ohio. I asked who the band was but nobody was sure. So I hopped on the computer and surfed over to CNN to see if they had anything on the rumor. My heart sunk as the headline "Rock guitarist among 4 killed at Ohio club" pops up on the screen with a picture of Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott. When you find out about something like this your emotions immediately go on a high-speed roller coaster of ups and downs ranging from fire-breathing anger to depths of despair depression.
For those of us who had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Abbott, we know that his onstage persona was quite different than away from the stage. Because of his amazing guitar skills I approached Dime (his preferred name) to endorse my guitar hanger. He was quite happy to oblige; stating that it was a "Bitchin Product". Over the last 4 years we had crossed paths a number of other times at concerts I reviewed and at trade shows. I always found him to be friendly, polite and courteous, even when heavily inebriated and having to deal with my sons' star worshipping metal band mobbing him for autographs.
After your emotions calm down a little bit you start asking the Who, What and mostly the Why? questions. Some facts are easy - a deranged fan storms stage shooting. Other facts like why he did it may never be known. Thankfully a sharp shooting local officer put an end to the rampage before more people were killed. Rumors by acquaintances flew, evidently the man was upset over the breakup of Dime's former band Pantera. Probably the one downfall of stardom is potential for stalking, psycho fans. In the news there are constant incidences of these things, usually harmless, but not this time.
To fans and rock historians "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott will be remembered as an amazing guitar player and his band Pantera as a breakthrough act. They brought extreme thrash metal to a whole new level even garnering Grammy nominations. With virtually no radio play, their 1994 release "Far Beyond Driven" debuted at #1 going platinum immediately. They had a reputation as a hard partying act (true), but on stage they played even harder, which built them a huge international following. It was a shame when the band imploded but these things happen. Bands are relationships and just like any other they can sour and dissolve. Darrell and Vinnie moved on and started a new act that was just gaining momentum when he was struck down.
Of course it was much too soon for Dime to go, but isn't it always that way? Let's be glad that he left such a legacy and remember we'll always have his music to remind us of his spirit and his love for playing. For more on the man go visit
www.damageplan.com or www.pantera.com.
As seen in Rock City News