Dimebag Darrell Killed Onstage

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 8:30 am

Photo by Jarrod Vrazel : zrock.com (Houston, TX April 20, 2004)

Damageplan / Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell is dead following a bizarre shooting during a Damageplan concert in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday night. Five people including Dimebag were killed and two people were injured.

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Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 8:33 am

One witness said that a man jumped onto the stage during the first song of the group's set and began firing a gun. The gunman fired several shots at the band before being tackled by club security. One of the survivors is in critical condition at a local hospital, while another is in fair condition. Several others were treated at the scene, suffering from various injuries.

Scoop of The Blitz 99.7 FM confirmed to Blabbermouth.net that Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul was uninjured in the shooting incident. According to Scoop, Vinnie was in a complete state of shock and expressed his desire to be with his brother right after the shooting occurred.

Dimebag Darrell, real name Darrell Lance Abbott, formed the legendary heavy metal group Pantera in 1982 with his brother Vinnie Paul on drums and bassist Rex Smith. Vinnie is also a member of Damageplan. Their glam metal days changed in 1990 with their major label debut (5th album in total and 2nd with new singer Phil Anselmo). 'Cowboys From Hell' spurred the sound that would change the shape of modern metal.

Pantera disbanded in 2003, years after they had released any new material. Soon after the demise of Pantera, Dimebag and his brother formed the more nu-metal focused Damageplan (that still featured Dimebag's signature guitar tone).

As news of Dimebag's bizarre and tragic demise rippled through the metal community, the news was met with shock and sadness -- reports MTV.

"I'm speechless," former Rob Zombie / Ozzy Osbourne bassist Rob "Blasko" Nicholson said. "This is totally unreal. Dimebag is a f*cking legend and this is total bullshit."

"This is insane and this is beyond travesty," Killswitch Engage frontman and former Damageplan tour partner Howard Jones said. "This is beyond anything I've ever heard. This shouldn't happen in or outside of the rock and metal community. He will be missed and mourned as a person, as a musician, and as a friend."

Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx offered the following: "Dime, I will never forget all the times you made us laugh. I'm so happy we got to spend the day together in London recently… We should all live our lives as full as you have. I will miss you, as will all of us... This is a sad day."

RIP Dimebag Darrell.

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Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:51 am

Megadeth's Dave Mustaine has issued the following statement regarding the death of Damageplan guitarist Dimebag Darrell:

"There is nothing unique or clever to this post, and what I want to say has no doubt already been said throughout the metal community, by countless others whom were more closer to Darrell than me by now.

"However, knowing he was murdered tonight, I wish to thank and remember Darrell for his amazing life and the gift that he shared with me and so many other fortunates.

"I pray for Darrell's family and friends; specifically for their healing, their peace, and their understanding of this tragedy in this time of need.

"I send my deepest heartfelt condolences to the Abbott family, to Darrell's friends, and to the fantastic Pantera and Damageplan fans around the world.

"We must never forget his life, and his gifts, his genius, his terrific personallity, and the legacy he left behind to remember him by.

"Darrell, I will see you in heaven and I, like so many more, love you brother.

"You will be missed."

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 2:14 pm

Iced Earth singer Tim "Ripper" Owens (formerly of Judas Priest) on the death of Dimebag Darrell:

"Hey, wanted to say that Dime was a great guy and amazing guitarist! He will really be missed! He made me laugh when he would see me backstage and sing out 'Ripper' in a high note with some melody he had made up! He and his brother always gave me respect. I knew how much of a fan he was of Judas Priest and Rob [Halford], so the respect meant a lot! And all the rumors about him and I working together where the best rumors I'd ever heard about me! I always wanted to work with Darrell and was always waiting for that phone call! Dimebag, we love ya bro and you will be missed!"

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:32 pm

"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.

Mark Hunter, lead singer of Chimaira, said Dimebag "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."

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:53 pm

Dallas Stars Stanley Cup Victory Parade
June 21, 1999

Dimebag and his brother Vinnie Paul were the driving force behind the Dallas Stars' official theme song played at Stars home games during the Stanley Cup run in 1999.

Official statements from the Dallas Stars on the passing of Darrell Abbott:

Dallas Stars President Jim Lites:"The Dallas Stars would like to pass along our condolences and sympathies to the family of Darrell Abbott. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims of this attack and hope that all of the injured make a full recovery. We know the Abbotts as passionate hockey fans and consider them good friends of the Dallas Stars."

Two of the Abbotts' closest friends on the 1999 Stanley Cup Dallas Stars team were Craig Ludwig and Guy Carbonneau.

Former Stars Defenseman Craig Ludwig:"Dime was a great friend and an incredible person. He and Vinnie Paul loved what they did and loved the fans. They had a wonderful passion for their work and for the Dallas Stars. They were behind us 110%. They weren't just hockey fans, they were friends of the entire team. Dime will be missed very much."

Stars Assistant General Manager Guy Carbonneau:"I'd like to pass along my thoughts and prayers to these special friends who are a big part of the Dallas Stars family. I was horrified to hear the news of last night's events and it never ceases to amaze me how hurtful and violent people can be. My condolences go out to the family and I wish all of those involved a speedy recovery."

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 8:29 pm

Slipknot's Corey Taylor: "He could take a riff that would take somebody a year to master and he could rip it off in seconds. He made everything look like he was playing 'Smoke on the Water' with one finger.
"He was one of the coolest people I've ever met. The guy just loved to laugh and he loved to make you laugh. And he loved to make you do something that you would never do in a million years. He was a guy that lived in the moment. His philosophy was, 'Let's do something that is gonna make us remember tonight for the rest of our lives.' And that's something I'm gonna f*cking miss for the rest of mine."

Anthrax's Scott Ian: "After Eddie Van Halen, you had Dimebag Darrell. He was the next guy that came along and did something as original and important on guitar.
"He's the type of guy that would do anything for his friends. He really did put his family and his friends first, and for him everyone was his family. Once you came into contact with Dimebag and became friends with that guy, it was a sacred bond. Once you shared drinks with that guy, you became a part of his extended family."

Life of Agony: "Today is a sad day for music. Life of Agony are extremely distraught over last night's insane tragedy which took the life of Damageplan's Dimebag Darrell. The band's hearts go out to the Abbott family as well as the entire Damageplan camp. Dime, you will never be forgotten. We are all just speechless over here."

Hatebreed: "Right now, we like so many are in complete disbelief and shock at the horrific murder of our friend, hero and brother Dimebag Darrell.
"Our deepest and most sincere condolences to Rita, Vinnie and all of his bandmates, family and friends. May our love and prayers be with you in this horrible time.
"Dime was one of the most amazing, generous, talented, funny, charismatic and caring people we have ever met. Some of the greatest times of our lives were spent with him and we will never forget his zest for life and generosity. Thank you, Dime. The world will never be the same without you. Your contributions to music and to all of our lives are invaluable and will never be forgotten. We love you bro.
"Today we mourn with all of the Pantera and Damageplan fans around the world but tonight we are gonna play our asses off like Dime would have wanted us to!"

Opeth: "The members of Opeth want to express their shock and sorrow in light of the recent tragic death of Pantera / Damageplan guitarist Dimebag Darrell. Condolences goes out to his family and especially his brother Vinne Paul who we hear is wounded but alive. We hope for a swift recovery. Things like this should not happen!"

Ministry: "Ministry would like to like extend our deepest condolences to Darrell's friends and family and the friends and families of others who were killed or injured last night.
"Several members of Ministry were very close with Darrell and we are deeply saddened by the loss of this great artist."

Rich Ward (Fozzy, Stuck Mojo): "Darrell was as nice as they come. During the times that I spent with him, I wondered why he played in such a heavy band. Not that he didn't have the ability to school all of us that dared to share a stage with him, but because he seemed like such a gentle and kind man. He had a great sense of humor and was someone that everyone in the room gravitated toward. He never carried himself like the big rock star that he really was, instead he came across humble and appreciative. I consider it a privilege to have known him, as he was one of the 'real' guys in the business and as Zakk [Wylde] would say, 'one of the boys'!"

Shaun Glass (Soil): "Today I am saddened to say I lost my friend and hero it sickens me that someone would take away a person that brought so much joy to so many people. Love ya, Double D."

Sepultura: "Dimebag was an excellent musician and a good friend, a f*cking great partner in memorable tours. We'll miss him very much. Our condolences to the Abbott family."

Machine Head: "Machine Head are devastated by the horrific news. Our deepest sympathy and condolences to the Abbott family, Damageplan and former members of Pantera. Our thoughts are with you all."

Jon Dette (ex-Slayer, Testament): "My brother just called to tell me that Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed on stage tonight. Words cannot express the sadness I'm feeling right now and my condolences go out to Vinnie Paul and the Abbott family for their loss. This is a huge tragedy for the music world."

Orange County, California-based sextet Bleed The Sky (recently signed to Nuclear Blast Records): "It's a sad day in heavy metal, Dimebag Darrell formerly of Pantera, was shot and killed while performing with Damageplan in Ohio. We would more than likely not be a band if it wasn't for him, and can't possibly imagine the pain that his brother and his family must be in. RIP, brother, heavy music will never be the same without you."

Trivium's Matt Heafy: "There's nothing that hasn't already been said or felt about this recent tragedy regarding Dimebag Darrell. All I can say is that Dimebag was one of the most influential musicians in our time. Legends aren't something we can pick and choose and they aren't here in vast numbers — Dime was a man who helped inspire countless numbers of players, fans, and people in general, a legend who really made the world seem that much better. Everyone I know who has met Dime says he was really nothing short of one of the nicest people they'd ever met, that he was a humble fun-loving metal head. But now Dimebag Darrell: a son, a brother, an idol, a musician, a fellow man... has been taken from us. It's a terrifying feeling that now at concerts, our very release from the everyday world we each seek out to escape from, our heroes are being murdered. My heart goes out to the Abbott family: Dimebag Darrell Abbott was a man of legendary and heroic status, but before all that Darrell was and always will be a brother and a son; we all mourn today."

Quiet Riot's Frankie Banali: "This is so wrong. Darrel was one of the nicest people in music and a great guitarist. He was always great to me each time we saw each other, as was Vinnie. Such a waste and so disturbing. My thoughts and prayers are with Darrel and my sincerest sympathy to Darrel's family, loved ones and all of his fans and the fans of Pantera and Damageplan. No one deserves a violent death, and certainly not Darrel. God bless him."

(Thanks: MTV.com)

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 8:44 pm

Atlantic Records has issued the following statement:

"We are shocked and saddened by last night's horrible and senseless shootings. This is a tragic day for the music community, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and the surviving members of Damageplan and their crew. Dimebag Darrell was an exceptional musician and an extraordinary person. Along with his brother and bandmate, Vinnie Paul, he was a member of the Elektra/Atlantic family for the past 14 years, and he will be deeply missed. The bravery displayed by Damageplan, their crew, their fans, and the local police will never be forgotten."

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 8:46 pm

Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich:

"This is unbelievable. To sit here and talk about Darrell in the past tense seems so wrong, so unfair, so unjust, I don't even know what to say. My heart goes out to Vinnie, to their families, to the other band members, and to the families and friends of the other people that were killed or injured, in this f*cking senseless act of selfishness and stupidity.

"In 1985 I was fortunate enough to meet both Darrell and his brother in Dallas on tour. The first thing me and my friend did as soon as that tour was over, was to head straight back to Dallas and hang out with Darrell and Vinnie for a long time, cuz they were the coolest mutherfuckers that we had met after criss-crossing the states for three months. That was the beginning of a friendship that was anchored in love, respect, fun, outrageousness, music, booze, sweat, late nights, early mornings, hangovers, headaches, pounding eardrums, sore bodies... the list goes on.

"There's a tendency in these fucked up moments to use the word 'I' a lot and focus on one's own feelings of pity and shock... so instead let it just be known that thru these eyes Darrell was incredibly warm, open, fun, nutty, forthcoming, talented, embracing, unpretentious, accommodating and he always had a very attractive innocence about him that obviously made him never threatening and always welcoming.

"Darrell and his brother were the cornerstone of musical adventures that were always groundbreaking, pushing boundaries, challenging to themselves and to their fans, respected by their peers and always true musicians' musicians, and today the rock world is worse off because of this untimely and senseless waste.

"Much love and respect and thanks for letting me be a small part of your life and I know you are already having fun and throwing it down with Bon Scott, Keith Moon, John Bonham, Jimi, Cliff B., and the rest of the musicians and troublemakers that you are hanging with so prematurely."

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:59 pm

Limp Bizkit vocalist Fred Durst:

"Last night was the 9/11 for metal to me and the metal community. Not only did Pantera inspire me to have the courage to express myself they were also one of my main motivations to form Limp Bizkit. I am sad beyond comprehension. I mourn for the loved ones of Dimebag and the others murdered. a living legend has been taken from us. Life has permanantly changed for me as of last night. I believe everything happens for a reason and in no way do I understand the reason for this. I will be forever in his debt. RIP Dimebag."

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:02 pm

Superjoint Ritual bassist Hank Williams III:

It just ain't f*ckin right... Alcohol should have killed Dime, not a f*ckin piece of shit worthless f*ck with a gun trying to recreate the John Lennon's killing... This happened on the same day, if you didnt know... Dime will never die EVER!!! His style of guitar playing took metal to a whole new chapter in metal history.

"For those of us that were lucky enough to be around Dime as a person... or see him jam in no matter what band it was, you know he liked to have a good time... In his honor, crank up his f*ckin music and get motherfuckin wasted on whiskey!!!!!!!

"And no matter what was said with all the shit talking between Superjoint Ritual and Damageplan, that's all it was, nothing but talk!! If we had ever been in the same room together as both bands, it would have been cool… Kinda like seeing 'ole family....

"I'm sure there will be plenty of new rumors surfacing.....And fingers pointing at people to blame... But Philip and the rest of Superjoint Ritual are in a state of shock and blown away by this tragedy! We do not take this shit lightly... What this kid did is so fucked up its not even conceivable. May you burn in the hottest corners of hell, you pistol-packin' pussyf*ck...

"R.I.P Dimebag. You rocked harder than you will ever know!!!!"

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:25 pm

Rob Zombie:

"I don't know exactly what to write concerning the death of Darrell. This is beyond shocking and horrible. I still can't believe it is true. I got the call from my manager Andy Gould, who, along with Walter O'Brien, used to manage Pantera and White Zombie.

"During the early ninties White Zombie and Pantera were constant touring partners and I had the pleasure of watching Darrell perform with Pantera easily over a hundred times. For those of you who never saw him, he was without a doubt the most dynamic guitartist on the face of the planet. He was truly one of a kind. A legend.

"Off stage, he was a cool, down-to-earth guy with the most bizarre sense of humor ever, half the time I didn't even understand what the hell he was saying. He spoke a language all his own — Dimespeak.

"The last time I saw Darrell was with his brother Vinnie standing in the crowd rocking out at a Metallica show. I never got a chance to see his new band, but I'm sure he was as amazing as always.

"No one can replace a giant talent like Darrell, he will be missed.

"My heart goes out to Phil, Rex and especially Vinnie."

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:26 pm

Exodus guitarist Gary Holt:

"I am, for the first time in my life, at a loss for words. The terrible reality of last night's tragedy is starting to sink in, and I am in a deep state of mourning over the loss of one of my personal guitar heroes, on stage and off, Dimebag Darrell.

"When my friend Walter called me with the news last night, I had to make him repreat every word when he was finished. It was just too much to believe. I had to be some sort of stupid, cruel rumor. But it was not. And so begins heavy metal's darkest day.

"I'll never forget when Exodus, along with Suicidal Tendencies, had the honor of taking Pantera out on their first U.S. tour. And I will never forget standing there, along with Rick Hunolt, watching Darrell play during their first soundcheck, just totally ripping Gary Moore's 'Still Got the Blues'. Rick and I knew this cat was something special. And he reminded us of it every night. He was a wildman, able to drink people under the table and still go out there and shred, never hitting a bad note. He was the first guitarist I'd ever seen who actually frightened me, he was so f*cking good! And most guys with that kind of talent wear their guitars like a bib and spend their off time indulging in role playing games, but Dimebag was a monster of the best and highest caliber. Only Zakk Wylde could compete with Dimebag in that respect.

"My deepest condolences go out to Vinnie and his family. I am so sorry for your loss, and I will not even try to pretend I have any idea what you must be going through right now. The metal world is behind you, we are all behind you.

"Dimebag, rest in peace bro, this blacktooth is for you."

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:35 pm

Deftones drummer Abe Cunningham:

"We had the pleasure of touring three times with Pantera. They treated us so well on the road. We had some great times hanging out with them. They treated us with open arms, especially the brothers. Darrell lived the music. We feel terrible, and our hearts go out to his family, brother and father. He was a legend in this business, and an unbelievable musician. He will be missed by all."

Posts: 1695 · Posted: Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:36 pm

Korn vocalist Jonathan Davis:

"Darrell and Pantera were one of the main reasons I joined a metal band. This is a tragic loss for the music community and to all who knew him. Korn is truly shaken and we want to send our deepest condolences to the families of the deceased."