Dimebag Darrell Abbott remembered

Thursday, December 8th, 2005 marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Pantera and Damageplan guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. Abbott, one of the most beloved and respected musicians in hard rock, was shot onstage during a Damageplan concert at the Alrosa Villa club in Columbus, Ohio by a 25-year-old ex-Marine named Nathan Gale. Gale killed a total of four people and wounded three others before being killed himself by police officer James D. Niggemeyer, who arrived on the scene minutes after Gale began his rampage.

23-year-old audience member Nathan Bray, 29-year-old club employee Erin Halk, and 40-year-old Jeff Thompson, who worked security for Damageplan, were also killed by Gale before he was brought down.

Gale seemed to deliberately target Abbott, leading to speculation that the young man, who had a history of mental illness, held a grudge against Abbott and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul, for the break-up of Pantera in 2002. Columbus police closed their investigation of the incident this past October without firmly establishing a motive for the shootings.

Abbott and Paul formed Pantera in the mid-Eighties in Texas. The band recorded four independent albums before their 1990 major label debut, Cowboys From Hell, introduced a heavier sound and made them a favorite with metal fans. 1994's Far Beyond Driven debuted at Number One on the Billboard Top 200 without benefit of a commercial hit single.

The group splintered in 2002 following the departure of volatile lead singer Philip Anselmo. Dime and Vinnie, as they were known to their fans, regrouped with Damageplan, and the band's debut album, New Found Power, came out on February 10th, 2004. The group was touring in support of the record at the time of the shootings.

Abbott's death was a devastating blow to the close-knit hard rock and metal community. Abbott was known to many of his fellow musicians for his hospitality, friendship, generosity and partying spirit, and was a legend among fans and peers for his powerful, innovative and unmistakable playing style. Rumors of the eventual release of previously unheard recordings by Abbott continue to circulate, and numerous tribute concerts are being held all over the world this week.

Vinnie Paul said on Wednesday, December 7th, that there is a "treasure trove" of unheard recordings that will see the light of day, including the previously announced Rebel Meets Rebel album and songs meant for the second Damageplan CD: "They were the best (songs) yet. We learned a lot from being on tour, we grew as a band...Basically, a band's first record is them coming together and really learning everything, and then after they're on the road and really become a unit, the next record slams. We were to that point, and it was coming, man."

Paul will issue the self-titled debut from Rebel Meets Rebel through his own Big Vin label. The album, which Paul and Abbott worked on for four years with "outlaw" singer David Allan Coe, is a fusion between hard rock and country music. Paul said that the disc, which his brother was "very proud of," will come out in March.

Paul also intends to release a wealth of video footage of Abbott, saying that he takes comfort from watching his brother on the screen: "It makes me feel like he's still here. The videos make me smile. Pictures usually make me sad, listening to the music bums me out -- but when I see him on the video, it's like I could just reach right through that TV and grab him and give him a big hug."

Nevertheless, Paul said that getting back into music without his partner, brother, and best friend has been enormously difficult for him: "Gettin' on with gettin' on ain't an easy thing. I've been down to the studio where we recorded everything two times since (Abbott's death)...It was really weird, man. I just...I didn't stay long. I walked in and...I just...it's pretty tough, man. It freaked me out, and I just left. It's not good."

"DIME" AND VINNIE ON "DIME" AND VINNIE

We interviewed "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and Vinnie Paul in 2004, shortly after the release of New Found Power and the launch of the band's US tour. Abbott said at the time that he couldn't help but feel a thrill at stepping onstage again.
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "I don't know, it's just kind of a natural thing that happens, you know. You see the crowd, the amps crank up, the drums start pounding, the lights start going off and it's just, you know, you're at home. It's what you do, you know."

Vinnie Paul told us that he had the utmost respect for his brother as a musician.
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "I tell people all the time, he's the most talented person I ever met in my life. Not just 'cause he's my brother, but it's just, that's how I feel about it. On this Damageplan thing, Dime gets out there and rips a solo every night and I can't believe how much of a rush it is just still to hear him get up and play and then hear the crowd start chanting 'Dimebag' and all that. It's a good time, man."

Darrell Abbott spoke to us about his relationship with his brother:
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "Our brotherhood is a true brotherhood and we both have the same goal. You know, it wasn't like in somebody else's family - 'Well, Johnny got a A-plus this week, you got a C-minus, up yours,' you know. It was never a competition kind of thing with us, you know, we both had the same goal. And we're like best friends more so than brothers, you know."

"Dime" and Vinnie Paul were known as two of the hardest-partying rockers around, and Abbott told us that their motto was "everyone is welcome":
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "You know, we don't judge people for what kind of music they play or what kind of people they are or what kind of haircut they got, or anything. We're just into hangin' and cuttin' up, you know, and there's always gonna be a nut to find in somebody, you know. And hey, if they're ever wantin' to hang and have a good time, we're open to it, man, any time, and we're gonna have a good fuckin' time and they don't forget it."

OTHER MUSICIANS ON "DIMEBAG":

Slipknot lead singer Corey Taylor:
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "Every time I hung out with Dime, dude, it was just laughing. I just remember laughing my ass off, 'cause he was just one of the funniest guys, you know. And he was just one of the best dudes, man, and probably one of the best guitar players I've ever seen. Not only live, but just everything, you know. He just made it look fuckin' effortless."

Shadows Fall guitarist Matthew Bachand (on tour with Damageplan at the time of the shootings):
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "The dude was just an inspiration. I mean, from day one when we started this tour, he just took us all in as people and musicians. We had a great time and, you know, I'm glad I got to spend the time with him that I did. It was just amazing."

Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger on how he felt when he heard about Abbott's death and how he's dealt with it since:
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "I was very, very upset and really angry. I couldn't understand why somebody would do that. I stay in touch, I call Vinnie and just try and keep his mind off of things. It's nice to let him know that he could just call you up and talk about anything -- it doesn't have to be about Darrell -- and just be there for him."

Disturbed drummer Mike Wengren told us that the onstage shooting of Abbott had cast a shadow over live performing.
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "I think one of the most scariest things is, you go up onstage, and there's this energy transfer between the band and the crowd, and you almost feel invincible. You feel very empowered. Never in a million years would anyone ever think something like that was even possible, and I think it just caught everyone off guard. It's pretty scary."

Judas Priest front man Rob Halford on Abbott's legacy:
[ click here to listen if you have a Backstage Pass] "His music will live forever, and that's the wonderful thing about what we do as recorded musicians -- our music will be around a lot longer than we will. So we have his music to cherish, and he still will be an inspiration to guitar players, as he was with Pantera and with Damageplan. So, you know, we'll miss him dearly."
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