Metal Fans: Dimebag Darrel killed during gig

[jonsey]

Story on Yahoo

"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was fatally shot during a performance, was a frenetic, ear-shattering guitarist whose riffs for the Grammy-nominated Pantera and more recently Damageplan were a heavy-metal staple. He was 38.

Abbott was shot to death as he took the stage Wednesday with Damageplan at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio.

Three other people also were fatally shot before a police officer shot the gunman to death.

The deaths shook the heavy-metal music industry, and fans flooded Web sites to share their shock.

"I'm absolutely beside myself with grief. I can't for the life of me understand why someone would do this," said Ozzy Osbourne, who often toured with Pantera.

The metal band Drowning Pool cancelled its tour following the rampage. One of the other victims in the shooting once worked for Drowning Pool.

"No one knows why some people do the heinous things they do," the band said in a statement. "Dimebag Darrell was the epitome of Rock and Roll. He wasn't just a player that all guitarists aspired to be, but the genuine article and a true friend."

Mark Hunter, lead singer of the metal band Chimaira, said Abbott "changed the way metal music was written with his guitar playing. I don't know anybody in a band who hasn't stolen a few guitar riffs from him."

A fan posting on the band's Web site read, "This is the worst day in metal history."

Pantera's fast, aggressive sound attracted a massive cult following in the early 1990s, and its third release, "Far Beyond Driven," debuted at No. 1 in 1994, surprising chart-watchers and critics alike. Other hit albums were "The Great Southern Trendkill" and "Reinventing The Steel," and a song by the band became the Dallas Stars hockey team's signature tune in 1999.

"When you think of '90s heavy metal or hard rock, Pantera is one of these seminal bands. They are quoted today as influences by many bands," said Tom Calderone, MTV's executive vice president. "Hard rock has lost a legendary guitar player."

Pantera was nominated for Grammys (news - web sites) for best metal performance in 1995 for "I'm Broken" and in 2001 for "Revolution Is My Name." The video "The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits" hit the top 10 for music-video sales earlier this year; another video, "3-Watch It Go," went top-10 in 1998.

Darrell Abbott and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, left Pantera last year and produced Damageplan's debut album, "New Found Power," which was released in February.

Born in Dallas on Aug. 20, 1966, Darrell Abbott was introduced to music by his father, country songwriter Jerry Abbott, who owned a recording studio. The younger Abbott gravitated toward rock music and the styles of Tony Iommi, Ace Frehley, Eddie Van Halen (news) and Randy Rhoads.

The Abbott brothers and bassist Rex Rocker formed Pantera in 1983. Then Abbott went by the name "Diamond Darrell." Abbott later took the moniker "Dimebag" and was often referred to as "Dime" by fans and friends.

Early on, Pantera leaned more toward hard rock, but the band began to develop a heavier sound after singer Phil Anselmo joined in 1987. After releasing a few independent albums, Pantera signed with Atlantic Records in 1990. It was also the period when Abbott came into his own as a guitar player, developing his heavy, frenetic sound that can first be heard on the 1990 album "Cowboys from Hell" and then on the 1992 standout "Vulgar Display of Power."

Dimebag's exceptional guitar playing and flair for partying endeared him to friends and fans, and the band was known for post-concert backstage parties spiked with Crown Royal whiskey, said Paul Gargano, executive editor of Metal Edge magazine.



"He was just a huge fan of rock music and heavy metal and the lifestyle," said Gargano, who considered the guitarist a good friend.

Despite Dimebag's nickname, Gargono said, "It was funny because I never saw him smoke pot all the time I knew him."

Pantera's manager Kim Zide-Davis, who worked with Abbott from 1994 to 2003, called him larger than life, and said she often told the guitarist he was "a living cartoon character."

"He would do things that you wouldn't believe a real person was capable of," she said.

In recent years, Abbott also made recording appearances on Nickleback's "The Long Road" and with Frehley, of the band Kiss.

Besides the Abbott brothers, Damageplan also includes vocalist Patrick Lachman and bassist Bob Zilla.

Fans in Texas remembered "Dime" as a down-home celebrity, who ate at chain restaurants, remembered neighbors' names and waved "hello" at Target.

"You were the peoples rock-star," read a handwritten sign posted at a mailbox-turned memorial in a middle-class neighborhood between Dallas and Fort Worth.

 

[chriscalow]

Damn shame, that guy could really play guitar too.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

True, but maybe someone had just had enough of people screaming for anarchy? Probably just another junkie loser though, with a non descript axe to grind, eh. Just a thought. And yeah, this is Off Topic, but, I personally, don't see the value of another rock suedostar "biting the dust" as being particularly important enough to be here. I'm sure there's already been full blown web pages started to the canonization of this guy. Maybe you should be going there.

 

[1feral1]

This event even made the papers here in Sydney! Plus I watched it all the other day on FoxTel on Fox news.

BTW, his killer was a 25 yr old former Marine.

Cheers,

Wes

 

[Slim]

his killer was a 25 yr old former Marine.


(sigh) Of course he was. Any details on this homicidal ex marine Wes? I only ask because sure as sh*t the papers will practically lay this jerkoff musician's death at the door of the USMC!

Slim

 

[1feral1]

Nope, just know he had Mr Glock pay him a visit and was killed 'dead'. Today's Telegraph www.dailytelegraph.com.au did list his name, butIi can't quite remember. They said he was mad the original band split-up, and came on to the stage ranting and raving. He shot a security staff member too, then took his frustration out on the audience, before a Cop got a shot at him.

The twisted thing about it is many patrons thought it was all part of the act

Thats all I know.

 

[GerryCan]

True, but maybe someone had just had enough of people screaming for anarchy? Probably just another junkie loser though, with a non descript axe to grind, eh. Just a thought. And yeah, this is Off Topic, but, I personally, don't see the value of another rock suedostar "biting the dust" as being particularly important enough to be here. I'm sure there's already been full blown web pages started to the canonization of this guy. Maybe you should be going there.

Anarchy? I own every Pantera album and can't remember hearing any lyrics about any such topic.
And isn't Off Topic here for the purpose of 'Off Topic' conversations??

 

[The_Falcon]

And yeah, this is Off Topic, but, I personally, don't see the value of another rock suedostar "biting the dust" as being particularly important enough to be here. I'm sure there's already been full blown web pages started to the canonization of this guy. Maybe you should be going there.

The guy may not have been important to you, but he was important in his own way.  I know of many soldiers who listened to Pantera's (his former band) music and still do.  You may not have heard of him or his music, but believe me when I tell you he and Pantera were very large and influential in the underground metal music scene (like in terms of large Arena Headlining tours, grammy awards etc.).  And btw he may been a hard partying guy (alcohol only), he was a humble down to earth Texan.

 

[Infanteer]

It's ironic how a guy that had songs like "Fucking Hostile", "Slaughtered", and "Death Rattle" (just skimming through Amazon titles) should meet his end in an act of violence in a concert full of angry people jumping around and crashing into each other. 

Looks like you reap what you sow.

In other news....

 

[Crazy_Eyes]

Damn shame, Pantera was (proper tense?) awesome. Songs like Suicide Note pt 2, and Cemetery Gates are awesome. i got to school today and the first thing my buddy tells me is that Pantera died :skull: and as a side note i'm kinda curious why when all these shootings and what not happen it's always "an ex Marine"....that just doesn't make sense to me, anyways just a side thought

 

[1feral1]

it's always "an ex Marine"....

Any Marine will tell ya (as one told and corrected me) "there is no such thing as an ex-Marine, but there are former Marines".


Cheers,

Wes

 

[GerryCan]

It's ironic how a guy that had songs like "******* Hostile", "Slaughtered", and "Death Rattle" (just skimming through Amazon titles) should meet his end in an act of violence in a concert full of angry people jumping around and crashing into each other. 

Looks like you reap what you sow.

In other news....

Well not really, Darrell didn't really write the lyrics. Now if next week Phil gets a 'Primal Concrete Sledge' to the face, that would be reaping what we sow in a sense.

 

[Goober]

I love how some of you guys pass of judgement of Dimebag when you don't have a damn clue as to who he really was.

 

[Infanteer]

Well, are you buddies with "Dimebag" or something?

I'm only pointing out an ironic fact - a violent and aggressive bandmember playing loud aggressive music to people jumping around violently all the sudden finds himself the victim of a violent, aggressive act.

The fact that the audience thought it was part of the act goes to show something.  I just googled some lyrics to show the attitude of the music:

Expect the worse,
you bleeding heart,
but kill me first
before it starts,
yes my c**k is getting hard,
we are born different after all

Invite mayhem,
produce weapons,
shoot out,
burn down
No CNN or media now

All the money in the f*****g world couldn't buy me one second of trust
or one ounce of faith in anything you're about
F*** you all

He definitely isn't going to be having the local youth group show up at his concerts; as I said, you reap what you sow....

 

[Goober]

The only thing you are pointing out is your ignorance towards who he was. He was not violent, if you think he was then prove it. He was aggressive much like any male, and it showed in some of his licks and his style. You call the fact that some people who goto concerts mosh (jumping around violently as you call it) and that he died by a violent, aggressive act ironic? I think you are misusing the word.

The fact that the audience thought it was part of the act goes to show something.

It shows nothing. They perform on a stage. It is an 'act', observors paid money to see a 'show'. I could say the same for a Broadway musical if a gunman rushed the stage and began shooting the performers.

  I just googled some lyrics to show the attitude of the music:

Exactly, you googled some lyrics. And I like the ones you chose, his words are directed towards an entity in a sarcastic way.

Dimebag Darrell was the type of guy who put family and friends first, there are countless articles in the countless guitar and music magazines featuring him, with interviews of himself and others in the biz talking about who he is and what he's like. He would often take fledgling bands under his wing, get them exposure, plug them in interviews, and put them on tour with him to help them out. He's often refered to as big-hearted and warm.

... as I said, you reap what you sow....

I think you should stick to the threads you know something about.

 

[Infanteer]

It shows nothing. They perform on a stage. It is an 'act', observors paid money to see a 'show'. I could say the same for a Broadway musical if a gunman rushed the stage and began shooting the performers.

People build sub-cultures around imagery.   I'm sure Marilyn Manson is different then his public persona (he actually seems quite intelligent), but it doesn't stop people like the Goth crowd from trying to be spooky vampires.

Dimebag Darrell was the type of guy who put family and friends first, there are countless articles in the countless guitar and music magazines featuring him, with interviews of himself and others in the biz talking about who he is and what he's like. He would often take fledgling bands under his wing, get them exposure, plug them in interviews, and put them on tour with him to help them out. He's often refered to as big-hearted and warm.

See above; I'm sure that there are many "Gangsta" rappers who are also big-hearted and warm, but what does that say when they sing about selling crack, abusing women, and shooting other people down in the street.

It's shitty that this guy was murdered, and I would be the last one to shift the responsibility off the guy who pulled the trigger.   However, like I said, for someone who made a few bucks singing about chaos and destruction to meet his end in a scenario that would fit into one of his songs is ironic.

I think you should stick to the threads you know something about.

...am I to assume you are in the music business or something.   Quit taking yourself so seriously.

 

[Goober]

Thats not irony. Ironic would be a "warm fuzzy" guy singing about death and destruction.

Anyway, no I'm not in the music business, nor have I ever seen Dimebag in person. I have, however been a rock guitarist for 6 years, and a rock/metal fan since the 80's. I grew up listening to rock/metal and have had subscriptions to rock mags since I can remember. Its my life long hobby.

 

[jonsey]

True, but maybe someone had just had enough of people screaming for anarchy? Probably just another junkie loser though, with a non descript axe to grind, eh. Just a thought. And yeah, this is Off Topic, but, I personally, don't see the value of another rock suedostar "biting the dust" as being particularly important enough to be here. I'm sure there's already been full blown web pages started to the canonization of this guy. Maybe you should be going there.

Well, for one, I just felt like I would post this Off-Topic thread in the Off-Topic section so that those forum members who didn't know, and would be interested would find out.

and Suedostar? Maybe you don't like what he did, but a lot of people do.

One final thing. The thread title clearly stated the subject of the thread, if you didn't like it, why did you click on it?

 

[EasyCo]

True, but maybe someone had just had enough of people screaming for anarchy? Probably just another junkie loser though, with a non descript axe to grind, eh. Just a thought. And yeah, this is Off Topic, but, I personally, don't see the value of another rock suedostar "biting the dust" as being particularly important enough to be here. I'm sure there's already been full blown web pages started to the canonization of this guy. Maybe you should be going there.

Bitter much?

 

[The_Falcon]

Darrell didn't right the lyrics or sing them, so no it is not ironic.