NEWS: Pantera Breakup a Factor in Dimebag's Death?

[ABlairican Pie]

The Dallas Morning News is reporting that the Columbus police are trying to determine whether Nathan Gale, a 25-year-old semipro football player accused of killing DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, was incensed because of last year's breakup of Mr. Abbott's previous band, PANTERA, one of the top metal acts of the 1990s.

"He loved PANTERA. He was like weird, man, about his obsession with PANTERA," said Mike Norris, who frequents a tattoo parlor across the street from Mr. Gale's home in Marysville, a town about 25 miles from Columbus. "I knew the guy was out to lunch, but I can't believe this."

Mr. Gale, a landscaper, mechanic and sometimes bass player who had just made his car payment a day earlier, ran along the stage Wednesday night and yelled something before firing five or six times at Mr. Abbott, 38, from point-blank range.

Abbott died of multiple gunshot wounds to the head, according to the Franklin County coroner's office.

The 6-foot-3, 266-pound gunman had a man in a headlock and appeared to be reloading when the officer shot him in the face with a rifle, a police spokesman said.

The hostage was unharmed, but Jeff Thompson of Dallas, 40, a technician with the band, was killed, as were Erin Halk, 29, a club employee, and fan Nathan Bray, 23. Two others were injured, one critically.

Other victims of Nathan Gale at the Alrosa Villa club Wednesday night:

Jeff Thompson (photo), 40, Dallas. A member of DAMAGEPLAN's road crew who worked security for the last year.

Nathan Bray, 23, Grove City, Ohio. A DAMAGEPLAN fan who went to the club for the group's concert.

Erin Halk, 29, Columbus, Ohio. He worked for the club loading band equipment.

Two others were wounded; one was in critical condition and the other had injuries that were not life-threatening, police said. Two others were treated at the scene.

[*MIBabe03*]

This story is sad. WTF is the matter with people? Sorry that the band broke up and all, but dude how is killing one of the members gonna bring back the band? DUH!

[Janice]

I'm not into heavy metal and never heard of this band, but this story is just so heartbreaking. To have someone shoot you right on stage is just nuts. Those other poor victims too...

From what I've been reading and watching on tv, Darrell Abbott was a really nice guy. I saw Tommy Lee and another member from Motley Crue just about crying about their good friend Abbott in an interview.

It's just terrible. :(

[Dean Winchester]

that guy is a psycho. I too heard about "you broke up Pantera!!!".

Hello, does the moron realize that unless it's Nirvana, Abba or The Beatles, more than likely a reunion tour was going to happen down the line sometime? Now he completely ruined that chance.

[Dragonflies]

Gawd that guy was just a sicko. :mad:

[Dean Winchester]

why not just support the side-projects until Pantera came back?

[robyrob]

Originally posted by Janice
I'm not into heavy metal and never heard of this band, but this story is just so heartbreaking. To have someone shoot you right on stage is just nuts. Those other poor victims too...

From what I've been reading and watching on tv, Darrell Abbott was a really nice guy. I saw Tommy Lee and another member from Motley Crue just about crying about their good friend Abbott in an interview.

It's just terrible. :( my wife Robyn used to work at WAZU - Dayton's former Hard Rock radio station; she has met Dime many times and got to hang out with him quite a bit when he was in town - she was in tears when she got the news about this. She said he was a truly down-to-earth, all around NICE GUY, and the world has lost someone very special.

[AKA]

It's too bad nobody got this guy some help before it was too late.

Ohio Club Shooter Obsessed With Band

By Anita Chang
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The man who shot former Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and three other men to death at a nightclub was obsessed with the heavy metal band and made bizarre accusations against the group, a one-time friend said.

Nathan Gale apparently believed Pantera musicians were trying to steal his identity and the lyrics to songs he had written, former friend Jeramie Brey told The Columbus Dispatch in Friday's editions.

Gale, 25, charged the stage Wednesday at a show by Abbott's new band, Damageplan, and gunned down four people including Abbott before a police officer shot him to death. Two others were wounded.

Investigators said they may never know Gale's motive. Some witnesses said he yelled accusations that the influential heavy metal guitarist broke up Pantera, but police had not verified those reports.

Brey and former friend Dave Johnson said they had become frightened by Gale's behavior and distanced themselves from him several years ago. By that time, Johnson said, Gale had begun talking and laughing to himself and once appeared to be holding an imaginary dog.

"He used to be Pantera's No. 1 fan and has liked them for as long as I've known him," Johnson told the newspaper. "After a while something happened. He just kind of snapped. He went from being a cool guy to being a guy you didn't want to be around."

Johnson said he met Gale, known as Nate, in the late 1990s through a mutual friend in their hometown of Marysville, about 25 miles northwest of Columbus. They shared a love of rock music, held jam sessions and attended concerts together.

Brey recalled that Gale once showed up at his house with some songs he had written, but the words appeared to be copied from Pantera. Gale told Brey he planned to sue Pantera over the lyrics and for stealing his identity.

An imposing figure at 6-foot-3, Gale had made people uneasy at a Marysville tattoo parlor, staring and locking them into conversations about heavy metal music.

When he played offensive line for the semi-pro Lima Thunder football team, he psyched himself up before games by piping Pantera music into his headphones, coach Mark Green said.

"He seemed like a normal guy you would meet any other day," said Anthony Bundy, 20, who lived on the same block as Gale. "He was a keep-to-yourself type of person. He was real quiet."

Hours before the shootings, Gale got into an argument with a worker at the tattoo studio over some equipment he wanted the studio to order for him. He later angrily walked out of the shop.

The worker, Bo Toler, said he thought Gale had come to the tattoo parlor because he wanted somebody to hang out with. "I just thought he was quiet. I thought he had low-self esteem because of his thick glasses," Toler said.

Gale had had minor run-ins with police since 1997 but wasn't considered a troublemaker, authorities said.

He served in the Marines in North Carolina until November 2003, when he was discharged after less than half of the typical four-year stint, Marine spokeswoman Gunnery Sgt. Kristine Scarber said. She declined to explain the discharge, citing privacy rules.

Gale's mother, Mary Clark, did not return phone messages seeking comment.

The violence at the Alrosa Villa club came just after the opening chords by Texas-based Damageplan, the band formed by Abbott and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, after they left Pantera. Gale dodged two band members, grabbed Darrell Abbott and shot him at least five times in the head, witnesses and police said.

In less than five minutes, Gale had also killed Erin Halk, 29, a club employee who loaded band equipment; fan Nathan Bray, 23; and band bodyguard Jeff Thompson, 40.

The band's drum technician, John Brooks, was released from Riverside Hospital on Friday, said Sgt. Mark Allen of hospital security. Tour manager Chris Paluska was in stable condition.

Vinnie Paul Abbott thanked fans for their support in a statement the band released Friday.

"With all his greatness and accomplishments on the guitar, DIME will be missed more for his giving personality, charisma, caring for others, love and most of all his HEART!! Twice as big as the state of TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!!," Abbott said.

[AKA]

Ozzy, Dave Mustaine, Jonathan Davis Remember Dimebag

Those he toured with and those he inspired struggle to come to grips with their loss.

By Robert Mancini
MTV News

In the wake of the bizarre and tragic shooting that claimed the life of Pantera/ Damageplan guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott on Wednesday, friends and fans were coming to terms with the loss and remembering Dimebag as a man whose musical prowess was exceeded only by his love of life.

Fans were expected to gather for a vigil Thursday night (December 9) at the Columbus, Ohio, club where Dimebag was gunned down the night before. But as fans mourned, so did the friends and colleagues who had shared the stage and the road with the guitarist.

"Bottom line: You've got Jimi Hendrix, you've got Eddie Van Halen, you've got Randy Rhoads and you've got Dimebag Darrell," guitarist Zakk Wylde said. "His influence will be felt forever. And he was the most genuine, kindest guy you ever met. Dime would give you the shirt off his back. The good Lord put him down here to whoop some ass and make everybody happy, and now He needed him, so He took him. I'm sitting in Dime's garage right now — I'm down here to take care of his family, to keep everybody together — and I'm waiting for him to walk through the door. I'm looking at pictures of him on the wall, pictures of us hanging together, and it just crushes me inside. I've never had a brother, but he was as close to blood as possible. My love for him is unconditional and beyond forever."

"He's the type of guy that would do anything for his friends," Anthrax guitarist Scott Ian said. "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. ... The world hasn't seen someone with as strong an energy as Dimebag Darrell in my lifetime. He's one of those few people I've met who was absolutely special in every way."

"Dimebag was a dear friend of mine," Ozzy Osbourne said. "I'm absolutely beside myself with grief. I can't for the life of me understand why someone would do this. Pantera toured with me many, many times. I'll always remember the signed guitar that he gave me at my 50th birthday party. My heart goes out to Dime's family, his fans and the other innocent victims who were killed in this senseless tragedy. It's just terribly, terribly sad."

"Darrell and Pantera were one of the main reasons I joined a metal band," Korn frontman Jonathan Davis said. "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."

"I wish to thank and remember Darrell for his amazing life and the gift that he shared with me and so many others," Megadeth leader Dave Mustaine offered via his Web site. "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 personality, and the legacy he left behind to remember him by."

"We had the pleasure of touring three times with Pantera," Deftones drummer Abe Cunningham said. "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 [Dimebag and his brother, Vinnie Paul]. 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."

"I think a lot of people know him as this amazing guitar player that you have on your wall or you try to emulate his style, but there are only a select few people that were let into his world and know how genuine and how down to earth he was," Puddle of Mudd guitarist Paul Phillips said. "For that caliber of a guitar player to be that down to earth is so refreshing. He has every reason in the world to be like, 'Get away from me, kid. You don't know how to play.' He's not that guy. You were just instantly friends with him. It's amazing."

In addition to the peers who rocked alongside Pantera, a legion of young metal lions who were first moved by Dimebag's signature sound weighed in on his inspirational musicianship and spirit.

"Dime's music was a huge influence on me personally and on Lamb of God as a whole," Mark Morton said. "As a guitar player, he was a true innovator. His sound tone and style shaped modern metal and his riffs are constantly referenced by nearly every band in metal, including my own. Only recently did I have the pleasure of hanging out with him on a personal level, and he was as genuine and down to earth as anyone you would ever meet. This is a huge loss to the music world."

"Dimebag Darrell was one of the nicest and most genuine human beings all of us in Unearth have ever met," vocalist Trevor Phipp said. "His presence, music and most of all his friendship will be dearly missed. Dime loved life, cared about people and was a true rock icon. Everything about him was admirable. Our thoughts and hearts go out to his family and friends."

[AKA]

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 ****ing 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, ‘cause they were the coolest mother****ers 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 ****ed 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.

—Lars Ulrich, Metallica

[ABlairican Pie]

"With all his greatness and accomplishments on the guitar, Dime will be missed more for his giving personality, charisma, caring for others, love and most of all his HEART!! Twice as big as the state of TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!! Dime gave it all every day to each and every one of us and our lives have forever been hollowed without him...Thanks to all of you for reaching out to us in this time of our immeasurable loss. REST IN PEACE BROTHER DIME!!!!!!"
Vinnie Paul

I was absolutely shocked by the news. Dimebag was such a really nice genuine bloke and a great player. He was always very respectful towards me and it was lovely to have him on tour with us. He will be sadly missed.
Tony Iommi

I'm stunned. The taking of Dimebag Darrell's life in this horrific murder is a senseless tragedy for his fans and unfathomable loss for his family. I send my deepest condolences to Vinnie and the rest of his family. My thoughts are also with the families of all the other victims of this heinous act."
Paul Stanley

Sad to report 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott, formerly of PANTERA, has been killed in a club incident. Our best wishes to his family and friends."
Gene Simmons

Hello everyone. My deepest condolences go out to everyone affected regarding the passing of dimebag. His mucianship was superb and his original style was and will remain an inspiration to players worldwide. His friendship can never be replaced.

I first met Dime in 1991. I was in Toronto preparing for the 'Painkiller' tour. I had MuchMusic TV on and saw this guy talking about metal and wearing a 'British Steel' shirt. From what he was saying and the PANTERA video that aired I knew right away that this man was a guitar god!

" called MuchMusic and spoke to Dime and that night went to a club and hung with the band. We jammed 'Metal Gods'. From that point on, he and the rest of the band became solid friends. My gut feeling was that this band would be huge.

So PANTERA toured with PRIEST all over Europe. Many a night I would stand off stage and watch them tear up city after city leaving everyone stunned by their intense performances. It was a thrill to watch and hear Dime invent and advance with his playing. Soon the world became Panterarised!

Of course, so much has happened since those early times and I feel that it's important now that however we take the turn of events in recent years we all stay true to the same belief that Dimebag had about his love of metal, which was to play your heart out and be real wherever you are! Some things that happen in life make no sense at all, but out of pain comes strength, and I know the metal community will take that strength and use it as an enduring memory for Dimebag.

"Love never dies."
Rob Halford

The fact is, and what's really important, is that Darrell was a beautiful person. We lost a great guy who did a lot for a lot of people. What happened was incredibly ignorant to say the least. He extended himself to me time and time again. The guy MADE me stay at his house anytime a tour I was on stopped in Texas. My extreme condolences go out to Vinnie, the Abbott family, Damageplan, and the fans.
Jimmy Bower

It was horrible. Darrell was a big fan of mine. He expressed that every time we ever saw each other," said the Nuge, who fondly recalled that PANTERA performed his "Journey to the Center of the Mind" and "Cat Scratch Fever" the last time they played Detroit.

"It's tragic on two dynamic levels," Nugent, an outspoken advocate of sensible gun ownership, added. "Once again, innocence is destroyed, and it's Americans destroying other Americans. This conduct runs wild in this country ... It's not the Taliban doing it. It's Americans."
Ted Nugent

I can't believe the news I got last night. Jon called me telling me that Dimebag was shot at a club while they were performing. I couldn't believe it then and I still can't. On behalf of myself and the band I'd like to send our deepest sympathy to Dime's family. What a loss.

"I was lucky enough to be able to hang with Dime on a few occasions and he was a man that loved life and lived it to the fullest. He was an incredible guitar player / musician / human being — a legend who will live on in the awesome music that he made.

"Pour yourself a shot of crown, add a splash of coke and raise your glass in Dime's memory. You'll be missed."
Mike Mushok (STAIND)

Lemmy: "To Vinnie & all concerned: Man, I am so ****in sorry. You know I loved Dimebag and I'm about as sorry as you can get. Glad you're OK though. If there's anything you need help with, you got my number somewhere, OK.

"Thinking of you."

Phil Campbell: "I'm so sorry, we'll dedicate the set to Dimebag tonight."

Mikkey Dee: "My deepest sympathy to everyone affected by this tragedy
(MOTORHEAD)

I knew Darrell from months of touring together. He was a great guitar player, actually much better than was probably necessary to play the kind of music he was playing. Although his image was a wild partying maniac, his playing always was full of class and finesse. As a fellow guitar player, KISS fanatic and basic rock dude just tryin' to make music, I'm sad and shocked by this.

"Why is it so easy for any lunatic to get his hands on a gun??

"RIP, Dime, you will be missed.
Marty Friedman (MEGADETH)

We were playing a show in Texas a few years ago and I saw this sweaty, super long-haired, big-bearded, Dimebag Darrell-looking guy come over the barricade right in front of me. 'Holy crap,' I thought, "That IS Dimebag Darrell!!!' I had only met him once before, but I had grown up on PANTERA and was a little star-struck by his presence. He was smiling and looking up at me and jamming out to whatever song we were playing at the moment. The security in the barricade were getting ready to shoo him out from in front of the stage with everyone else, but I stopped them from ushering him out and I stopped playing guitar and I shook his hand. He hung out right in front of me for about four more songs. I couldn't believe it. He was a hero to so many of us. I'm glad I got to have that moment with him. I'll never forget it
Wes Borland (LIMP BIZKIT)

CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan and producer John Custer:

"It's tragic, a shame," Keenan said Thursday. "I've known Darrell for years and years. He was a big fan of COC, we toured Australia together with PANTERA. It's just a shame."

"He was one of the defining guitarists of his generation," Custer said. "He was like Eddie Van Halen or Randy Rhoads or Stevie Ray Vaughan, about seven cuts above everybody else. Anybody who puts in the amount of time and devotion to get that good is not ... out there just to mess around with music for a little while before going on to something else. He was a devoted musician and one of the most influential guitarists to come out of that whole decade. And he made records that helped people get through their year. He'll be remembered as one of the best."

Thursday afternoon, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY was gathering at the studio again. But Custer did not think they'd get much work done right away.

"It's hard to get excited about cutting guitar tracks right now," Custer said. "There will definitely be a shroud over things for a while." This is just awful."
Dime was an incredible talent who I've admired since the beginning when we had both just signed to Atco Records. It's been many years since I've hung with him or any of the PANTERA guys — but my memories with him and the guys were always of great fun and filled with crazy drunken insanity.

He lived each and everyday to the fullest. In fact, I never could believe how he could even function (both on and off stage) with the way he partied and lived life. I feel so sorry for Vinnie and the rest of the band and family.Words really cannot describe the heartache I've had all day.This is as tragic and unbelievable as Lennon getting killed.
But this hits home even closer because he was ONE OF US.
Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER)

"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."
ROB ZOMBIE

"Dimebag was a dear friend of mine," Ozzy Osbourne said. "I'm absolutely beside myself with grief... Pantera toured with me many, many times. I'll always remember the signed guitar that he gave me at my 50th birthday party. My heart goes out to Dime's family, his fans and the other innocent victims who were killed in this senseless tragedy. It's just terribly, terribly sad."
OZZY OSBOURNE

"I'm speechless. This is totally unreal. Dimebag is a ****ing legend and this is total bull****."
Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (OZZY OSBOURNE)

It's taken me several days to gather my thoughts so I could make some sort of statement about Dime. This whole thing is so surreal.

PANTERA changed my life as a musician. Dime has always been my absolute favorite guitarist ever.

STATIC-X did two tours with PANTERA and they were the most memorable tours of my career. Recently I've been very excited that Dime and Vinnie have carried on with DAMAGEPLAN, and I was looking forward to hearing many more great albums from them in the future.

The last show STATIC-X played before entering the recording studio was with DAMAGEPLAN in Florida. After the show, Dime and I, along with his awesome wife Rita, hung out all night and did plenty of drinking.

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know Dime, along with his bandmates Vinnie, Patrick, and Bobzilla. DAMAGEPLAN, their crew, and their friends are some of the best people I’ve ever met. Dime had a huge heart and a pure honesty that made him very cool and unique. He will be missed by everyone."
Wayne Static (STATIC-X)

"This is insane and this is beyond travesty. 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."
Howard Jones (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE)

"I am devastated as I'm sure we all are. All I can convey at this moment are my condolences to Rita and Vinnie and the whole family. My heart is with you."
Scott Ian (ANTHRAX)

"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 personality, 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."
Dave Mustaine (MEGADETH)

"A sad day for the world of Heavy Metal. A great talent taken by a senseless and unnecessary event. Although I never met the guy, I was always a fan of his music and of him as a guitarist, and the world of Heavy Metal guitar will mourn his loss. My thoughts go out to his family and friends at this tragic time. Rest in peace, dude."
Mantas (VENOM)

"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."
Nikki Sixx (MÖTLEY CRÜE)

"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'!"
Rich Ward (FOZZY, STUCK MOJO)

"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."
Shaun Glass (SOIL)

"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."
Jon Dette (ex-SLAYER, TESTAMENT)

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 ****ing 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 muther ****ers 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 ****ed 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.
Lars

(the Abbott brothers) "weren't just hockey fans, they were friends of the entire team." He added "'Dime' will be missed very much."
Former Dallas Stars defenseman Craig Ludwig

Dime was special, those who knew him would attest to that....
My heart goes out to Vinnie and Rita as well as the others who were injured.

Go play your PANTERA CDs or your Damage Plan CD.

Remember him for his music and his guitar playing, he was the best!

I love you Bro', I'll miss your face.
Give him a double.
whewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

cryin' and sobbin' - CB (ANTHAX)

"I lost a really good friend on my 31st birthday. Dimebag was the kind of guy you could hang out with for 2 seconds and feel like you knew him your whole life. He made you laugh, made you drink, but most of all made you feel special. I'm really really going to miss him, but the one thing we will always have is his music."

- Corey Taylor, Slipknot

"I don't know a single person who didn't love the music Dime created. I am so thankful for the all of the music he gave us and I am truly upset about this. I immediately broke into tears when I heard the confirmation. Dime's music gave me so much to live for when I was younger and he truly changed the face of metal with his unique style of guitar playing. There isn't a metal band I know that hasn't borrowed a riff or three from him. My heart goes out to the Abbot family, their friends and all of the fans who had to witness this tragedy in Columbus."

- Mark Hunter, Chimaira

"This is insane and this is beyond travesty. 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."

- Howard Jones, Killswitch Engage

"Dimebag was one of the most influential musicians in our time. Dime was a legend who really made the world seem that much better. He was a man who helped inspire countless numbers of players, fans, and people in general, including me. It's a terrifying feeling that now at concerts, at the place that we seek our release from the everyday world we want 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."

- Matt Heafy, Trivium

"It's just upsetting how the world is - the need and the necessity to override the value of life. From my whole (SLIPKNOT) family, I would like to tell . . . Vinnie and everyone else how sorry we are."

- Clown, Slipknot

"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."

- Machine Head

"Music has lost one of the greatest players and a friend and brother in metal. We toured together many times as a matter of fact and Darrell "Dime" and his brother came to our show in Texas. Today I feel empty, like there's nothing we can do to bring him back. All I can do is pray that Darrell is in a better place."

- Max Cavalera, Soulfly

"He will truly be missed. Dime was one of the first people to show Slipknot respect as a band and that meant so much because we all looked up to him. I remember all the good times I was able to spend with him over the years from tearing it up at the Ritz Carlton playing our version of WWF wrestling with Joey (Jordison) and Bobby Tongs to getting drunk with the outlaw at noon. He was there for me when I was going through struggles and problems in my life, always willing to listen and give me good advice. He was a good friend and I will miss him greatly. My condolences go out to Vinnie, Rita and the entire Abbott Family."

- Paul Grey, Slipknot

"I can't believe that this happened to Darrell. One could never imagine something like this happening at a metal concert. Out of all of the 'rock stars' that I know, he is the last person that deserved that. What a great guitarist and what a 'ham' he was. I am completely devastated. I am at loss of words."

- Trevor Peres, Obituary

"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."

- Life Of Agony

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

- Sepultura

"Dimebag was to me probably the most influencial guitar player of metal since I knew what metal was. I can remember Tommy and I going to every Pantera show that came to town and even sneaking into one at the Paladium years ago by climbing up the side of the building. It saddens me to think that something like this could happen to somebody who did nothing but give to the people of this community. Even after Pantera he continued to bless us with his unique style of playing. His music will live on forever, and may he rest in eternal peace. My respect and condolances go out to Vinnie and his family, the rest of the band & crew, and the families of those who lost someone in this tragic event .
You will be missed but not forgotten."

- Jonny Santos, Spineshank

"I would just like to take this moment to expess my sorrow to all the people that passed away last night. I know Dime was a great influence to alot of people, including myself. He will be missed deeply. I can personally say I had some of the best times touring with Pantera. Music is something that should be shared with all. We never stop to realize how powerful it can be. Dime, thanks for all the fun times we had! This drink's for you! R.I.P."

- Meegs, Pinata/Coal Chamber

I knew him by wanting to play with him. We had Pantera open for Megadeth in the U.S. and in Europe. When you get to the level of guitar playing that I'm at and that he was at, the air is pretty thin up there . . . Darrell was a really gentle spirit and pretty easygoing guy. Society is looking at this and saying, "This is heavy metal." That's not heavy metal, that's a random act..
Dave Mustaine of Megadeth


Zakk Wylde of Ozzy Osbourne
He was beyond beautiful. When he'd walk in the room, he'd light it up. **** the guitar playing -- he's right up there with Eddie and Randy and Hendrix. All he wanted to do was make everyone happy. He was the ray of sunshine. Dime will never die ever -- he's in my veins. He's sitting at God's tavern, having a cold one with Randy Rhoads and Hendrix. Dime was an original.


In the Eighties, honestly, I was more into dance music, New Romantic music like Depeche Mode. Vulgar Display of Power totally opened my eyes to a more traditional kind of metal. That made me go, "I want to be in a band like this. This is the ****." I really became a huge fan of Pantera, especially with what Darrell did. I'll never forget that trademark ****ing flying "V" guitar of his and his crazy, dyed ****ing goatee and insane, undeniable riffs that he wrote that have been copied I don't know how many ****ing times. He was one of the last great, traditional metal guitarists of our day. He was just a legend. It seems like all the great guitar players get taken early.
I remember when Fieldy took me my first Pantera concert, back in '92, '93. We both started breaking out crying because it was so ****ing insane, so intense. You just get goose bumps, how badass that **** is . . . I feel numb that that **** can even happen. The metal community is such a tight community, everyone is just feeling it. I feel so ****ing bad for his brother because those two were inseparable. I could tell Darrell was so full of ****ing life and such a cool guy -- he was just the life of the party. He knew how to live life to its fullest, took everything in excess and just made life bigger than it is. The guy was so ****ing cool.

Jonathan Davis of Korn

[Janice]

An Obsession With Pantera

Nightclub Gunman Said Metal Band Stole His Lyrics

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - The man who gunned down former Pantera guitarist "Dimebag'' Darrell Abbott during a concert was an obsessed fan of Abbott's former band and alarmed people with his bizarre behavior, a one-time friend said Friday.

Nathan Gale had told friends that Pantera musicians had stolen lyrics from him and were trying to steal his identity, former friend Dave Johnson said.

Gale, 25, charged the stage Wednesday at a show by Abbott's new band, Damageplan, and gunned down four people including Abbott before a police officer shot him to death. Two others were wounded.

Investigators said they may never know Gale's motive. Some witnesses said he yelled accusations that the influential heavy metal guitarist broke up Pantera, but police had not verified those reports.

Gale once showed up at a friend's house with songs he said he had written, said Johnson, 27. He wanted to sing the songs with Johnson's band but one musician said no because the lyrics were copied from Pantera.

"He'd been kind of weird before that so we thought it was another 'Crazy Nate' thing,'' Johnson said. "That was our nickname for him, 'Crazy Nate.'''

Johnson said Gale then calmly said that Pantera had stolen the lyrics from him and he was going to sue them. He also said the band was trying to steal his identity.

Johnson said Gale was a "hardcore'' Pantera fan and "that was all he listened to.''

Johnson said he last saw Gale in their hometown of Marysville, about 25 miles northwest of Columbus, about six months ago. He had distanced himself from Gale by then because of odd behavior that included talking and laughing to himself and once appearing to be holding an imaginary dog, he said.

An imposing figure at 6-foot-3, Gale had made people uneasy at a Marysville tattoo parlor, staring and locking them into conversations about heavy metal music.

When he played offensive line for the semi-pro Lima Thunder football team, he psyched himself up before games by piping Pantera music into his headphones, coach Mark Green said.

"He seemed like a normal guy you would meet any other day,'' said Anthony Bundy, 20, who lived on the same block as Gale. "He was a keep-to-yourself type of person. He was real quiet.''

Hours before the shootings, Gale got into an argument with a worker at the tattoo studio over some equipment he wanted the studio to order for him. He later angrily walked out of the shop.

The worker, Bo Toler, said he thought Gale had come to the tattoo parlor because he wanted somebody to hang out with. "I just thought he was quiet. I thought he had low-self esteem because of his thick glasses,'' Toler said.

Gale had had minor run-ins with police since 1997 but wasn't considered a troublemaker, authorities said.

He served in the Marines in North Carolina until November 2003, when he was discharged after less than half of the typical four-year stint, Marine spokeswoman Gunnery Sgt. Kristine Scarber said. She declined to explain the discharge, citing privacy rules.

Gale's mother, Mary Clark, did not return phone messages seeking comment.

The violence at the Alrosa Villa club came just after the opening chords by Texas-based Damageplan, the band formed by Abbott and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, after they left Pantera. Gale dodged two band members, grabbed Darrell Abbott and shot him at least five times in the head, witnesses and police said.

In less than five minutes, Gale had also killed Erin Halk, 29, a club employee who loaded band equipment; fan Nathan Bray, 23; and band bodyguard Jeff Thompson, 40.

The band's drum technician, John Brooks, was released from Riverside Hospital on Friday, said Sgt. Mark Allen of hospital security. Tour manager Chris Paluska was in stable condition.

Vinnie Paul Abbott thanked fans for their support in a statement the band released Friday.

"With all his greatness and accomplishments on the guitar, DIME will be missed more for his giving personality, charisma, caring for others, love and most of all his HEART!! Twice as big as the state of TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!!,'' Abbott said.


A photocopy of Nathan Gale's driver's license. Police identified him as the man who killed four at an Ohio nightclub.

[Dean Winchester]

I still don't get it tho.

Okay, the guy was a Pantera fan...
don't FANS of a band support the side projects and solo albums?

I mean, when the Beatles broke up, people weren't "**** the Beatles, they broke up!! I refuse to support the solo albums until they get back together", no.... Beatle fans went and became Wings fans, George Harrison fans and John Lennon fans. Is the Pantera fan that big of a douche to realize that's what happens when a band you like breaks up?

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
I still don't get it tho.

Okay, the guy was a Pantera fan...
don't FANS of a band support the side projects and solo albums?

I mean, when the Beatles broke up, people weren't "**** the Beatles, they broke up!! I refuse to support the solo albums until they get back together", no.... Beatle fans went and became Wings fans, George Harrison fans and John Lennon fans. Is the Pantera fan that big of a douche to realize that's what happens when a band you like breaks up? Yeah, it's like a guy
claiiming to be a Christian and saying, "Hey, Jesus, You are so AWESOME!! Where do You want the nails?"

[Janice]

Originally posted by BuffySlayer79
I still don't get it tho.

Okay, the guy was a Pantera fan...
don't FANS of a band support the side projects and solo albums?

I mean, when the Beatles broke up, people weren't "**** the Beatles, they broke up!! I refuse to support the solo albums until they get back together", no.... Beatle fans went and became Wings fans, George Harrison fans and John Lennon fans. Is the Pantera fan that big of a douche to realize that's what happens when a band you like breaks up?
That would be logical thinking for a normal person, but this creep was deranged and didn't have a logical thinking pattern. Nuts defy logic.

I used to wonder why the guy killed the actress Rebecca Schaeffer if he loved her so much, then I realized that trying to make sense of a very abnormal mind is an exercise in futility.

Yeah, and Abbott's killer was that big of a douche. It's so sad. The more I read about Darrell Abbott, the worse I feel.

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by Janice
That would be logical thinking for a normal person, but this creep was deranged and didn't have a logical thinking pattern. Nuts defy logic.

I used to wonder why the guy killed the actress Rebecca Schaeffer if he loved her so much, then I realized that trying to make sense of a very abnormal mind is an exercise in futility.

Yeah, and Abbott's killer was that big of a douche. It's so sad. The more I read about Darrell Abbott, the worse I feel. I read that Rebecca Schaeffer's killer was angry that she
appeared in a movie where she appeared in an (implied) sex scene and he got angry, thinking she was no longer this sweet virginal thing, that she was a "tramp" for even appearing in a risque scene. It was a sick response to an actress's so-called lack of propriety. I saw a video clip of him talking about her shooting and he was mocking her reactions and screams when he shooting her. Yeah, this douche loved her all right. :mad: :rolleyes:

[ABlairican Pie]

From the Pantera.com site:

[phoebe7165]

I'm just now reading all your posts although I knew about Dimebag's death the other day. My sister & I have been talking about it ever since. Even though I wasn't much of a fan of Pantera or Dimebag, I did respect them for their talents. Of course, I think this is extremely sad that another person in the music world was taken from us far too soon, and for no apparent reason except that the murderer was a whack job.

Yeah, I've been 'obsessed' with quite a few bands who have since broken up, but I would NEVER dream to hop up on stage and shoot the band members!! Geez!! I'm glad that the shooter was shot & killed, too. Better to rot in hell than waste taxpayers money sitting in jail.

I can't even imagine that here you are ready to do another show, something you've done many times before, and you aren't even aware that this is the last day of your life. So, so sad.

My heart goes out to the family of Dimebag and the families of the other victims. Dimebag is already sorely missed.

[ABlairican Pie]

This has a few more bits of info than previously reported:

Dec. 12th, 2004

Pantera's breakup may have led man to kill

BY APRIL KINSER

The Dallas Morning News


MARYSVILLE, Ohio - (KRT) - Nathan Gale was an oddball loner who craved friendship, a man in search of a calling.

A passionate fan of the heavy metal band Pantera, Gale apparently took the group's breakup in 2003 as an insult.

"When they broke up, I think he felt some kind of personal connection, like he felt left out or betrayed," said Mark Break, a former friend of Gale's. "This kid listened to their albums every day. He was obsessed with Pantera."

Those feelings of betrayal may have led Gale, 25, to jump onstage at the Alrosa Villa club in Columbus last Wednesday night and shoot guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott at least four times during a concert with his new band, Damageplan.

Nathan Gale Abbott and his brother, Vinnie Paul Abbott, both with longtime North Texas roots, left Pantera last year to form Damageplan. Vinnie Paul Abbott was onstage during the shooting but was not injured.

After shooting Darrell Abbott, Gale killed three and wounded two others before a police officer shot him dead.

Although Columbus police have not publicly discussed a motive, witnesses have said they heard Gale yell at Darrell Abbott, blaming him for Pantera's breakup.

Break said that Gale was known for bizarre behavior such as petting an imaginary dog and staring at walls while muttering to himself.

With thick glasses and the blue and white hockey jersey he wore the night of the shooting, Gale was often seen walking the streets of Marysville, listening to Pantera on his headphones.

At 6 feet 3 inches and 266 pounds, Gale frequently was the butt of jokes and uncomfortable around girls, Break said.

Gale graduated from Marysville High School in 1998 and spent several semesters at the Ohio Hi-Point Joint Vocational School in nearby Bellefontaine. He completed a construction trade electrical program.

He had minor run-ins with police over the years and bounced from job to job, working as a mechanic, landscaper and pavement cleaner. He was discharged early from the Marines a year ago, although the reason was unclear. A couple of friends said they had heard he suffered from mental illness.

Rich Cencula, owner of Minit Lube in Marysville, where Gale worked briefly, said Gale wanted to learn to box and dreamed of playing professional football.

Gale began playing semipro football recently for the Lima Thunder in Ohio. But he continued to live in Marysville, a city of about 25,000 about 25 miles from Columbus, where many residents work for factories that produce products for Honda, Nestle, Goodyear and other companies.

Break said he and others began distancing themselves from Gale about eight months ago when he claimed Pantera stole lyrics from him and he spoke of killing others.

"He told me once that God told him to kill Marilyn Manson," Break said.

Autumn Bender, an employee at Bears Den tattoo parlor across from Gale's apartment on the town square, said she would sometimes have to ask him to leave because he stared at clients and made them uncomfortable.

Although Gale seemed at odds with many people, another acquaintance said he remained close to his mother, Mary Clark, a waitress at the Fraternal Order of Eagles Lodge.

Clark did not return telephone calls seeking comment. A woman at her home who did not want to be identified said Sunday that Gale's funeral would be private.

Looking back, Break said he now recalls signs that might have been a precursor to Wednesday's killings.

"I wish I could have said something to somebody saying this guy could be dangerous, that this guy is just not right," Break said. "All of us were Pantera fans, but he took it past being a fan. He took it to an obsession."

---

© 2004, The Dallas Morning News.

[ABlairican Pie]

The family of slain DAMAGEPLAN/ex-PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott has requested a "Kiss Kasket" (photo) for Abbott to be buried in, KISS bassist/vocalist Gene Simmons revealed during an appearance on Fox News' "The Big Story Weekend Edition with Rita Cosby" on Saturday (Dec. 11). The coffin features the faces of the four founding members of KISS, the KISS logo and the words "Kiss Forever". A transcript of Simmons' appearance on the program follows:

Rita Cosby: Gene, it's great to see you, my friend. I wish it was under better circumstances.

Gene Simmons: Thank you, thank you.

Cosby: Now, I understand there was something special. This just came down recently. Darrell Abbott's family requested something sort of special tied with your band. Tell us about it.

Simmons: Well, I wasn't really prepared to talk about it, but the family requested, as a personal issue between the family and the grieving people who are going to be there, to send a Kiss Kasket. We initially did it as a promotion. And you know, I think it meant a lot to Darrell when, you know — when he was alive, he gave lots of people great joy. I mean he had the band tattooed onto his chest. He was a major figure in rock and roll. He's going to be greatly missed. And the family wish — you know the one last wish they had was that he be buried in a Kiss Kasket. And I think it's a private matter for the family and the fans actually.

Cosby: No, and I think that's beautiful that that's happening, too, because I'm sure, it obviously, as you said, meant a lot to him. How big of a shock was this? You know this guy really was a legend and so well respected in the industry. How big of a shock was it to you, Gene, when you heard what happened?

Simmons: You know it's about as shocking as it can get. The unfortunate thing is that the media will tend to sort of look at the visuals, you know, the flying hair and the crazy look and all of the over- the-top stuff, which is what performing is all about. But people forget that underneath all of that, actually, Darrell was a very, very sweet guy, very upstanding, very quiet in his own way, immensely talented. PANTERA was a very, very important band. And I'm sure all the fans are going to miss him very much. I know I do.

We — KISS played at the stadium in Argentina and we invited PANTERA to join us. And it was one of the highlights of any of the tours we have ever played. Darrell was just a sweet guy.

Cosby: Gene, how vulnerable are you guys to fanatical fans like this mad man who did this horrible act?

Simmons: You know people often forget that the word "fan" actually comes from the word "fanatical". Most people are very nice. Most people respect your privacy. But here's no secret, most celebrities check into hotels under pseudonyms and the reason is not because I don't love the fans but because you've got to be able to keep everybody at arm's length because every once in a while you're going to get a nut job. The only justice, as far as I'm concerned is that this nut case is no longer around to do this to anybody else.

The unfortunate thing about the judicial system, if you'll allow me, is that, if he were caught, somebody would bring up the point he had a troubled childhood and that we should rehabilitate him. And I'm not a fan of that, I have to say. Whether he was troubled or not, if you resort to violence and you kill somebody, you should be taken off the face of the earth.

Cosby: No, and it is — absolutely, I agree with you. How do you protect yourself, Gene? I mean you talk about this balance — you got so many wonderful fans, you in particular, you know, folks — and you want to have that access, you want to have that one-on-one. But then there's that wild one all of a sudden who does something horrible. How do you find that balancing act?

Simmons: You've got to be able to separate the fact from the fiction, the stage histrionics from the private life. When you walk down the street, you've got to be aware that everybody is not necessarily your best friend and then — you know, sometimes somebody is going to have an ulterior motive, which is why when you check into a hotel, you have to do it under an assumed name. And when you go some place big and public and where there are lots of people, you've got to take security with you both for legal issues. I mean if I did something with this fist to somebody who was getting in my face —- and I'm 6-foot-2. I'm not shy. If you get in my face, I'll take you out. You literally can't do that. You've got to be able to have a buffer, somebody else between you and somebody who's — you know who's being improper.

Celebrity is not everything that everybody believes it is. It is a precarious position in life. But, you know we do it because we love it.

Cosby: And Gene Simmons, we love you and thank you so much for coming here and talking about this. We appreciate it.

Simmons: I just want to say one last thing, which is.

Cosby: Yes, real quick if you could, Gene.

Simmons: Our hearts and our best wishes go out to the family. He was a great guy. He's going to be sorely missed.

Cosby: Thank you, Gene, very much, and he definitely will. And we appreciate you're coming here. Thank you, Gene, very much.


http://www.kissonline.com/news/images/kasket/kasket.jpg

[ABlairican Pie]

The latest issue of British music magazine Metal Hammer features this interview with former Pantera vocalist and current Superjoint
Ritual vocalist Phil Anselmo, in the December 1st, 2004 installment. Could this have set off Dimebag Darrell's killer to act?


http://www.unearthed.com/news/2004/12/0000040793.shtml

:confused:

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by webwarrior762004
Does anyone know if the police officer who shot Gale will be
investigated? From what I remember reading, the officer has been hailed as a hero for his shooting Gale when he took a hostage and was ready to kill them as well.

[ABlairican Pie]

Seems you can't trust everything in the music media (i.e., Metal Hammer)--so here are a few words from Pantera board moderator J, who's been in contact with Phil Anselmo:


I don't have a big official statement. I do have a lot of inside knowledge on the Pantera feud from Philip's side and tonight he gave me the green light to let everyone else in on what I know. He trusts me to do this, and I take 100% responsibility for anything that is inaccurate, but I'm confident you all know I'm not going to touch on this subject unless it's from the heart. He didn't even give me any specifics except for the final part of this post... he just wants me to tell people what I know to be true.

Philip loved Darrell like a brother, always. They accomplished things together that most wouldn't even dare to dream. None of us can know what it's like to be riding such a big machine, it changes the face of music and brings joy millions of people's lives around the globe. The rewards are big, but the stress is unimaginable if things don't go perfectly. Yes Pantera broke up and there was a lot of **** talking through the media. There are two people on this board (WOLVIE and NGJ) who would periodically ask me about what's going to happen with Pantera in the future. I told them each time that I don't know when, but I'm 100% sure that we will see Pantera together again. I told them that when Pantera does get back together, you will know somebody who never lost faith, not for a second. Why did I tell them this? Because I know Philip loves those guys and when he was ready, he would reach out to them and try to make it work again. I had the feeling that one morning (afternoon maybe), all the CFH boys would just roll out of the rack and say "let's go!".

Of all the time I've spent with Rex and Philip, I never badgered them about Pantera, but the subject did come up every once in a while. As for Rex, he would refer to the state of things simply as "silly nonsense". All I ever got out of Philip was something like "nyaaaa... I just don't feel like sitting down and writing Pantera riffs right now."... and that's it! No crazy accusations, name calling, or carrying on. As a matter of fact, in the middle of all the heat, Philip described Vinnie as "the perfect drummer" and that Vinnie could drum more perfect than a drum machine if he so chose. What he said of Dime, he also repeated tonight. "The best of the best".

It's sad that the media would irritate the situation so much. Countless times, Kate and I would listen in on Phil doing interviews. Always, always, always, the jackals wanted Pantera dirt. Sometimes Philip would give it to them, sometimes he would not. However every single time I was there, he expressed his love for, and wished luck to Vinnie and Dime but that was somehow left out of the final print more times than not. I was at Philip's house a few weeks ago and I informed him that I handle the Official Pantera site now, and he asked me if I talked to Dime. I said "No, when was the last time YOU talked to him?" with a sigh, he said "three years". Not a "****in right 3 years" not a "yeah three years and it's gonna be three more"... but the dude was genuinely disappointed about the situation. I could tell... the time to patch things up was drawing near.

There's more I want to share, but it's almost 5AM right now, and I just managed to hold myself together long enough to get that out.

Philip isn't hiding out or waiting for the right moment to speak, he's in Texas right now searching for answers to this tragedy the best he can. There was one thing he asked of me, that I humbly bring to you all:


http://www.down-nola.com/images/darrellphilcopy.jpg

Darrell my brother. The best of the best.
-Philip H Anselmo

[ABlairican Pie]

Brian May - QUEEN
We are all gutted to hear of the senseless and tragic death of Dimebag Darrell, who was shot by a 'fan' who climbed on the stage at a show of his new band, DAMAGEPLAN. He was, of course, better known for his great playing in PANTERA.

"PANTERA were, I think, the first band that I and my son Jimmy both got equally excited about. It was Jimmy who first got me to see them. They were a great band, and Dimebag was an innovative and passionate player.

"Great musician. Terrible loss. My respects to him, to his family and friends. Also to those who were killed trying to save him and apprehend the gunman.

"RIP."

Kirk Windstein - CROWBAR
This whole thing is very disturbing.

First, I'd like to give my deepest heartfelt sympathy to Vinnie, Rita, all Dime's bandmates, and all of his family and friends throughout the world.

Second, I'd like to thank Dime for all the joy he's brought to my life both through his music, and through his friendship over the years.

I can honestly say that hanging out with Dime was some of the funnest times of my life. I really looked up to him as a person, and, of course, as a guitar hero. It's not very often that you get to jam with one of your musical inspirations on his back porch.

I feel really fortunate to have been able to know him as a person, to tour with PANTERA, to sit there with him and watch him do what very few can do on a guitar.

This whole thing is just horrible.

My sincerest thoughts and prayers go out to him and all of his loved ones.

"hanks for all you've brought to my life, Dime. Love you, bro.
Fallon Bowman - KITTIE

I would like to extend my condolences to the Abbott family at this difficult time.

"PANTERA, and especially Dimebag, made sure I had tons o' fun on the Ozzfest tour so I owe them a lot. Not only that, he was just a down-to-earth, nice person.

"It's a sad day for music. I'm sure this weekend everyone will do one shot of Jack Daniel's in his honour.

"RIP, Dime."
Kyle Thomas - EXHORDER

Above all, I want to send out condolences to Vinnie and his family. Also to Rita, as well as Philip and Rex, all of my friends in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area and the New Orleans friends Darrell had. Condolences also to the world of heavy metal. You lost an innovator, a warrior, and a metal god.

"We'll meet again..."
Jimmy Bower

The fact is, and what's really important, is that Darrell was a beautiful person. We lost a great guy who did a lot for a lot of people. What happened was incredibly ignorant to say the least. He extended himself to me time and time again. The guy MADE me stay at his house anytime a tour I was on stopped in Texas. My extreme condolences go out to Vinnie, the Abbott family, Damageplan, and the fans.
Ted Nugent

It was horrible. Darrell was a big fan of mine. He expressed that every time we ever saw each other," said the Nuge, who fondly recalled that PANTERA performed his "Journey to the Center of the Mind" and "Cat Scratch Fever" the last time they played Detroit.

"It's tragic on two dynamic levels," Nugent, an outspoken advocate of sensible gun ownership, added. "Once again, innocence is destroyed, and it's Americans destroying other Americans. This conduct runs wild in this country ... It's not the Taliban doing it. It's Americans."
Mike Mushok - STAIND

I can't believe the news I got last night. Jon called me telling me that Dimebag was shot at a club while they were performing. I couldn't believe it then and I still can't. On behalf of myself and the band I'd like to send our deepest sympathy to Dime's family. What a loss.

"I was lucky enough to be able to hang with Dime on a few occasions and he was a man that loved life and lived it to the fullest. He was an incredible guitar player / musician / human being - a legend who will live on in the awesome music that he made.

"Pour yourself a shot of crown, add a splash of coke and raise your glass in Dime's memory. You'll be missed."
Lemmy - MOTORHEAD
"To Vinnie & all concerned: Man, I am so ****in sorry. You know I loved Dimebag and I'm about as sorry as you can get. Glad you're OK though. If there's anything you need help with, you got my number somewhere, OK.

"Thinking of you."

Phil Campbell - MOTORHEAD
"I'm so sorry, we'll dedicate the set to Dimebag tonight."

Mikkey Dee - MOTORHEAD
"My deepest sympathy to everyone affected by this tragedy
Marty Friedman - MEGADETH
I knew Darrell from months of touring together. He was a great guitar player, actually much better than was probably necessary to play the kind of music he was playing. Although his image was a wild partying maniac, his playing always was full of class and finesse. As a fellow guitar player, KISS fanatic and basic rock dude just tryin' to make music, I'm sad and shocked by this.

"Why is it so easy for any lunatic to get his hands on a gun??

"RIP, Dime, you will be missed.
Wes Borland - LIMP BIZCUT
We were playing a show in Texas a few years ago and I saw this sweaty, super long-haired, big-bearded, Dimebag Darrell-looking guy come over the barricade right in front of me. 'Holy crap,' I thought, "That IS Dimebag Darrell!!!' I had only met him once before, but I had grown up on PANTERA and was a little star-struck by his presence. He was smiling and looking up at me and jamming out to whatever song we were playing at the moment. The security in the barricade were getting ready to shoo him out from in front of the stage with everyone else, but I stopped them from ushering him out and I stopped playing guitar and I shook his hand. He hung out right in front of me for about four more songs. I couldn't believe it. He was a hero to so many of us. I'm glad I got to have that moment with him. I'll never forget it
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan and producer John Custer

"It's tragic, a shame," Keenan said Thursday. "I've known Darrell for years and years. He was a big fan of COC, we toured Australia together with PANTERA. It's just a shame."

"He was one of the defining guitarists of his generation," Custer said. "He was like Eddie Van Halen or Randy Rhoads or Stevie Ray Vaughan, about seven cuts above everybody else. Anybody who puts in the amount of time and devotion to get that good is not ... out there just to mess around with music for a little while before going on to something else. He was a devoted musician and one of the most influential guitarists to come out of that whole decade. And he made records that helped people get through their year. He'll be remembered as one of the best."

Thursday afternoon, CORROSION OF CONFORMITY was gathering at the studio again. But Custer did not think they'd get much work done right away.

"It's hard to get excited about cutting guitar tracks right now," Custer said. "There will definitely be a shroud over things for a while." This is just awful."
Mike Portnoy - DREAM THEATER

Dime was an incredible talent who I've admired since the beginning when we had both just signed to Atco Records. It's been many years since I've hung with him or any of the PANTERA guys - but my memories with him and the guys were always of great fun and filled with crazy drunken insanity.

He lived each and everyday to the fullest. In fact, I never could believe how he could even function (both on and off stage) with the way he partied and lived life. I feel so sorry for Vinnie and the rest of the band and family.Words really cannot describe the heartache I've had all day.This is as tragic and unbelievable as Lennon getting killed.
But this hits home even closer because he was ONE OF US.
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."

OZZY OSBOURNE
"Dimebag was a dear friend of mine," Ozzy Osbourne said. "I'm absolutely beside myself with grief... Pantera toured with me many, many times. I'll always remember the signed guitar that he gave me at my 50th birthday party. My heart goes out to Dime's family, his fans and the other innocent victims who were killed in this senseless tragedy. It's just terribly, terribly sad."
Rob "Blasko" Nicholson (OZZY OSBOURNE)

"I'm speechless. This is totally unreal. Dimebag is a ****ing legend and this is total bull****."
Wayne Static - STATIC-X

It's taken me several days to gather my thoughts so I could make some sort of statement about Dime. This whole thing is so surreal.

PANTERA changed my life as a musician. Dime has always been my absolute favorite guitarist ever.

STATIC-X did two tours with PANTERA and they were the most memorable tours of my career. Recently I've been very excited that Dime and Vinnie have carried on with DAMAGEPLAN, and I was looking forward to hearing many more great albums from them in the future.

The last show STATIC-X played before entering the recording studio was with DAMAGEPLAN in Florida. After the show, Dime and I, along with his awesome wife Rita, hung out all night and did plenty of drinking.

I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to get to know Dime, along with his bandmates Vinnie, Patrick, and Bobzilla. DAMAGEPLAN, their crew, and their friends are some of the best people I ve ever met. Dime had a huge heart and a pure honesty that made him very cool and unique. He will be missed by everyone."
Howard Jones - KILLSWITCH ENGAGE

"This is insane and this is beyond travesty. 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."
Scott Ian - ANTHRAX

"I am devastated as I'm sure we all are. All I can convey at this moment are my condolences to Rita and Vinnie and the whole family. My heart is with you."
Dave Mustaine - MEGADETH

"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 personality, 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."
Mantas - VENOM

"A sad day for the world of Heavy Metal. A great talent taken by a senseless and unnecessary event. Although I never met the guy, I was always a fan of his music and of him as a guitarist, and the world of Heavy Metal guitar will mourn his loss. My thoughts go out to his family and friends at this tragic time. Rest in peace, dude."
Nikki Sixx - MÖTLEY CRÜE

"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."
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."
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."

Lars Ulrich - Metallica
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 ****ing 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 muther ****ers 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 ****ed 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.

Former Dallas Stars defenseman Craig Ludwig
(the Abbott brothers) "weren't just hockey fans, they were friends of the entire team." He added "'Dime' will be missed very much."

Charlie Benante - Anthrax
Dime was special, those who knew him would attest to that....
My heart goes out to Vinnie and Rita as well as the others who were injured.

Go play your PANTERA CDs or your Damage Plan CD.

Remember him for his music and his guitar playing, he was the best!

I love you Bro', I'll miss your face.
Give him a double.
whewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww

cryin' and sobbin' - CB (ANTHRAX)

Corey Taylor - Slipknot
"I lost a really good friend on my 31st birthday. Dimebag was the kind of guy you could hang out with for 2 seconds and feel like you knew him your whole life. He made you laugh, made you drink, but most of all made you feel special. I'm really really going to miss him, but the one thing we will always have is his music."

Mark Hunter - Chimaira
"I don't know a single person who didn't love the music Dime created. I am so thankful for the all of the music he gave us and I am truly upset about this. I immediately broke into tears when I heard the confirmation. Dime's music gave me so much to live for when I was younger and he truly changed the face of metal with his unique style of guitar playing. There isn't a metal band I know that hasn't borrowed a riff or three from him. My heart goes out to the Abbot family, their friends and all of the fans who had to witness this tragedy in Columbus."

Howard Jones - Killswitch Engage
"This is insane and this is beyond travesty. 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."

Matt Heafy - Trivium
"Dimebag was one of the most influential musicians in our time. Dime was a legend who really made the world seem that much better. He was a man who helped inspire countless numbers of players, fans, and people in general, including me. It's a terrifying feeling that now at concerts, at the place that we seek our release from the everyday world we want 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."

Clown - Slipknot
"It's just upsetting how the world is - the need and the necessity to override the value of life. From my whole (SLIPKNOT) family, I would like to tell . . . Vinnie and everyone else how sorry we are."

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."

Max Cavalera - Soulfly
"Music has lost one of the greatest players and a friend and brother in metal. We toured together many times as a matter of fact and Darrell "Dime" and his brother came to our show in Texas. Today I feel empty, like there's nothing we can do to bring him back. All I can do is pray that Darrell is in a better place."
Paul Grey - Slipknot
"He will truly be missed. Dime was one of the first people to show Slipknot respect as a band and that meant so much because we all looked up to him. I remember all the good times I was able to spend with him over the years from tearing it up at the Ritz Carlton playing our version of WWF wrestling with Joey (Jordison) and Bobby Tongs to getting drunk with the outlaw at noon. He was there for me when I was going through struggles and problems in my life, always willing to listen and give me good advice. He was a good friend and I will miss him greatly. My condolences go out to Vinnie, Rita and the entire Abbott Family."
Trevor Peres - Obituary
"I can't believe that this happened to Darrell. One could never imagine something like this happening at a metal concert. Out of all of the 'rock stars' that I know, he is the last person that deserved that. What a great guitarist and what a 'ham' he was. I am completely devastated. I am at loss of words."
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."

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

Jonny Santos - Spineshank
"Dimebag was to me probably the most influencial guitar player of metal since I knew what metal was. I can remember Tommy and I going to every Pantera show that came to town and even sneaking into one at the Paladium years ago by climbing up the side of the building. It saddens me to think that something like this could happen to somebody who did nothing but give to the people of this community. Even after Pantera he continued to bless us with his unique style of playing. His music will live on forever, and may he rest in eternal peace. My respect and condolances go out to Vinnie and his family, the rest of the band & crew, and the families of those who lost someone in this tragic event .
You will be missed but not forgotten."

Meegs - Pinata/Coal Chamber
"I would just like to take this moment to expess my sorrow to all the people that passed away last night. I know Dime was a great influence to alot of people, including myself. He will be missed deeply. I can personally say I had some of the best times touring with Pantera. Music is something that should be shared with all. We never stop to realize how powerful it can be. Dime, thanks for all the fun times we had! This drink's for you! R.I.P."

Dave Mustaine - Megadeth
I knew him by wanting to play with him. We had Pantera open for Megadeth in the U.S. and in Europe. When you get to the level of guitar playing that I'm at and that he was at, the air is pretty thin up there . . . Darrell was a really gentle spirit and pretty easygoing guy. Society is looking at this and saying, "This is heavy metal." That's not heavy metal, that's a random act..

Zakk Wylde - Ozzy Osbourne
He was beyond beautiful. When he'd walk in the room, he'd light it up. **** the guitar playing -- he's right up there with Eddie and Randy and Hendrix. All he wanted to do was make everyone happy. He was the ray of sunshine. Dime will never die ever -- he's in my veins. He's sitting at God's tavern, having a cold one with Randy Rhoads and Hendrix. Dime was an original.

Jonathan Davis - Korn
In the Eighties, honestly, I was more into dance music, New Romantic music like Depeche Mode. Vulgar Display of Power totally opened my eyes to a more traditional kind of metal. That made me go, "I want to be in a band like this. This is the ****." I really became a huge fan of Pantera, especially with what Darrell did. I'll never forget that trademark ****ing flying "V" guitar of his and his crazy, dyed ****ing goatee and insane, undeniable riffs that he wrote that have been copied I don't know how many ****ing times. He was one of the last great, traditional metal guitarists of our day. He was just a legend. It seems like all the great guitar players get taken early.
I remember when Fieldy took me my first Pantera concert, back in '92, '93. We both started breaking out crying because it was so ****ing insane, so intense. You just get goose bumps, how badass that **** is . . . I feel numb that that **** can even happen. The metal community is such a tight community, everyone is just feeling it. I feel so ****ing bad for his brother because those two were inseparable. I could tell Darrell was so full of ****ing life and such a cool guy -- he was just the life of the party. He knew how to live life to its fullest, took everything in excess and just made life bigger than it is. The guy was so ****ing cool.

Geezer Butler
Dimebag- one of the nicest blokes I have met on the road, one of the greatest musicians to grace our world. Senselessly taken from us by yet another act of gun violence. Rest in peace- thanks for the music and the man."

Doug Sabolick - A Life Once Lost
A sad ****ing day for sure, some miserable 20 something **** killed a legend. A man who inspired so many to rip and thrash. Pantera was and still is my favorite group and Dimebag was the one who inspired me the pick up the axe , the bottle and the joint and just ****ing RIP! I remember being 13 years old and just blasting "Far Beyond Driven" all day long. Darrell was who I looked up to, someone who did things on his own terms and still succeeded!

Phil Labonte - All That Remains
I don't know what to say the whole band is shocked our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone!"

Cory Brandon - Norma Jean
I think it's insane and scary and most of all sad that this had to happen. how lame. hearing about this sort of stuff pretty much pisses me off! Metal will miss that dude for sure. I liked him. RIP "cowboy from hell."

Dan Jacobs - Atreyu
It's a sad day when being such a good guitar player can get you killed. Metal will never be the same.

Keith Buckley - Every Time I Die
There are alot of counterfactuals involved in senseless deaths like that of Dimebags. What if it had been one of our shows. What if there are more people than we know capable of such atrocities. What if it had been me. But these "what-ifs" only come about after a period of reflection. The more sincere questions are the most immediate. Mine was this. "Why did Pantera break up in the first place".

Trevor - UNEARTH
This is a sad day for Heavy Metal, Rock'n'roll and for all his family, friends and legion of fans around the world.
Dimebag Darrell was one of the nicest and most genuine human beings all of us in Unearth have ever met. His presence, music and most of all his friendship will be dearly missed. Dime loved life, cared about people and was a true rock icon. Everything about him was admirable.

Our thoughts and hearts go out to his family and friends."

Ed Conroy - Full Blown Chaos
That's a idol and a legend gone for no reason. There is no reason for something like this to happen and it's frightening to think if this could happen in the future if ,say, some crazed fan jumps on stage and does something like that at a full blown show. With Darrell, man, it's just a waste of talent. People all over are just bummed out about it. Whether he was a friend or not, his influence can be heard all around music now.

Mark Morton - Lamb of God
Dime's music was a huge influence on me personally and on Lamb of God as a whole. as a guitar player he was a true inovator. his sound tone and style shapped modern metal and his riffs are constantly referenced by nearly every band in metal including my own. only recently did i have the pleasure of hanging out with him on a personal level and he was as genuine and down to earth as anyone you would ever meet. this is a huge loss to the music world."
Bobby C. - A Life Once Lost
Not only was Dime progressive musician, his image and style of playing changed the face of metal to this day...Light one up in his memory."
Maria Ferrero
Actions speak louder than words - the mark these class act people have put forth on the world will never be rivaled and never fade!"

[ABlairican Pie]

The onstage killing of former bandmate "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott has left ex-PANTERA vocalist and north shore resident Phil Anselmo distraught and questioning his own future.

In a transcript of a videotaped statement released to the media Tuesday, Anselmo said: "People want my reaction to what happened. This is about Dimebag Darrell, purely Darrell. It's not about me or some . . . psycho that happened to destroy the most beautiful person, one of my best friends in the world."

Abbott, 38, was shot and killed Dec. 8 while performing with the hard rock band DAMAGEPLAN at a Columbus, Ohio, nightclub. Three other people, including DAMAGEPLAN's chief of security, died after Nathan Gale, 25, opened fire with a handgun. Gale was an ex-Marine and metal fan reportedly angered by the band PANTERA's breakup. He was shot and killed by a police officer responding to 911 calls.

Anselmo and Abbott spent 15 years touring the world together in PANTERA.

PANTERA didn't achieve widespread success until Anselmo, a New Orleans native, joined about 1989. PANTERA sold more than 10 million albums, collected two Grammy nominations and inspired legions of aspiring hard rock bands. But by 2002, Anselmo, Darrell Abbott and his brother Vinnie Paul Abbott, the band's drummer, had become estranged as Anselmo devoted more time to other projects.

In 2003, they confirmed that PANTERA had disbanded, as the two camps exchanged accusations in the hard rock press. Anselmo was at home on the north shore last week when Abbott was killed. As Ozzy Osbourne, Paul Stanley of KISS, Brian May of QUEEN and other rock icons memorialized Abbott, a devastated Anselmo made no public comment until Tuesday.

Anselmo's statement says that "the heavy metal media destroyed PANTERA." He laments that he "never got a chance to say goodbye (to Abbott) in the right way and it kills me, and I'm so sorry."

Anselmo traveled to Dallas for Abbott's funeral. But he ended up not attending "to respect the (Abbott) family's wishes, and they do not want me there. I believe I belong there, but I understand completely."

"I wish his family the least grief they could ever have, and I know it's impossible. Just bless his family, bless his friends. I love him like a brother loves a brother. . . . I'm so sorry to his family and everyone else who was senselessly killed in Columbus, Ohio."

His statement hints at an uncertain professional future.

"This has changed the entire world, and this is the last you'll be seeing of me for a long time.

[Janice]

Nightclub Gunman Had Schizophrenia

Mother Says She Regrets Buying Weapon for Gunman

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The mother of the man who gunned down former Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and three others during a concert said her son was discharged from the military because he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia.

Mary Clark told Columbus television station WCMH on Wednesday that her son, Nathan Gale, was released from the Marines in 2003 after the military diagnosed the disorder. Gale's rampage last week ended when an officer shot him to death.

Clark, who asked the station not to show her face on camera, also said she bought the 9 mm semiautomatic handgun used in the shooting for her son, before he was diagnosed, because she was proud of his military service.

"I'll never, never be able to live that part down," she said.

Gale, 25, of Marysville, charged the stage at a show by Abbott's new band, Damageplan, on Dec. 8 at the Alrosa Villa nightclub. He shot and killed four people, including Abbott, before police officer James D. Niggemeyer shot him to death.

Clark said Niggemeyer had no choice.

"I give that man credit," Clark said. "You'll never know how many lives he saved."

Two others were wounded in the attack, including tour manager Chris Paluska, who was released from the hospital Thursday.

The shooting investigation is nearly complete, police said, but they may never know exactly why Gale opened fire.

His mother said Gale was obsessed with Pantera, a popular, Grammy-nominated heavy metal band, and had a drug problem in high school. She said he believed the band had stolen song lyrics from him, a statement also made by some of Gale's friends who have said Gale complained the band was trying to steal his identity.

Gale came home from the Marines with medication for his illness, Clark said, but she did not know whether he took the pills.

Maj. Jason Johnston, a Marine Corps spokesman at the Pentagon, said legal reasons prohibit him from for discussing why Gale was discharged.

In a separate interview, Gale's former boss at an oil-change business said Gale acknowledged suffering from schizophrenia when he was hired in October 2003. The condition is characterized by delusions and hallucinations.

"I would always say, 'Are you OK?' Occasionally I'd ask him if he was taking his medication," Rich Cencula, owner of Minit Lube in Marysville, told The Columbus Dispatch. "He always told me that he was." He said Gale later quit because he needed more money and better hours.



Copyright 2004 The Associated Press.

[ABlairican Pie]

Wow. Mom gives schizophrenic son--a GUN, of all things. :eek: ohno:
(No pun intended.)

(21st Century Schizoid Man is a song by King Crimson, btw)

[ABlairican Pie]

From Pantera.com:

Dec. 15, 2004 - DAMAGEPLAN, PANTERA Album Sales Jump Sharply Following Dimebag's Death

DAMAGEPLAN and PANTERA albums have seen a sharp sales increase in the last week as a result of the shocking death of DAMAGEPLAN/ex-PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was shot and killed while performing onstage at a Columbus nightclub. The following is an overview of the sales figures for the debut effort from DAMAGEPLAN as well as some of the key PANTERA releases, as measured by Nielsen SoundScan:
DAMAGEPLAN – "New Found Power" (2004):
Two weeks ago: 622
Last week: 7,020
Total to date: 167,106

PANTERA - "Best Of…" (2003):
Two weeks ago: 1,928
Last week: 8,659
Total to date: 290,597

PANTERA – "Vulgar Display of Power" (1992):
Two weeks ago: 741
Last week: 3,530
Total to date: 1,923,171

PANTERA – "Cowboys From Hell" (1990):
Two weeks ago: 483
Last week: 2,825
Total to date: 1,374,326

PANTERA – "Far Beyond Driven" (1994):
Two weeks ago: 349
Last week: 1,941
Total to date: 1,377,898

[Janice]

Originally posted by Captain ABlairica
Wow. Mom gives schizophrenic son--a GUN, of all things. :eek: ohno:
I know. There ought to be a law against that. Putting a gun in a diagnosed schizophrenic's hand is insane. They are known to get violent.

[Dragonflies]

They said on our local news(I live near Columbus) that on New Year's Day there will be a tribute concert for all the people killed by this madman.

[Ultra fuse]

I always loved pantera and pantera is Dimebag's greatest effort. He is the greatest guitar player of the 90s. I'm going to miss those monster guitar riffs. It seems only legends die during their career. Damage case was an ok group but they are just monsters on guitar riffs.

[Ultra fuse]

Well, Dimebag is in heaven and rocking with the angels.

[Mossopp]

I really don't know what to say about Dimebag's untimely death. I guess I'm still in shock. I thought I should contribute to this thread anyway just to pay my respects to the guy.
Dime was a hugely talented and influential guitarist and a massive character. I never thought I'd be reading "Gig Massacre! R.I.P. Dimebag Darrell" on the covers of the rock press. It's just not right.
I read Phil Anselmo's comments about Dimebag in Metal Hammer less than 2 weeks before the shootings and I remember thinking "I hope some crazy a$$hole doesn't take Anselmo's words too seriously". However it seems like that is exactly what happened. Anselmo is eating his words now. He seems genuinely sorry for everything that went down between him and Dime. Unfortunately now they'll never get a chance to heal the rift between them. Even though IMO Anselmo is a total arse it saddens me deeply that he's going to have to live with what he said for the rest of his life.
I also feel terrible for Vinnie Paul. What must it be like to see your brother murdered right infront of you? It's too horrible to even contempate! My thoughts are with Vinnie and the rest of Dimebag's family and friends.
In all the media coverage surrounding Dimebag's death it's easy to forget that several other people were killed and injured during all this. My thoughts are with them also.
Just think - this could have happened anywhere, at any gig. This could have happened at one of the many gigs that I myself have been to this year! It's a terrible tradgedy for the whole rock community.

'Dimebag' Darrel Abbott - Riff in peace, bro.

[Mossopp]

Here is an article featuring testimonies from 2 roadies who were witness to the shootings at the Alrosa. Be warned - it's pretty disturbing.

HEROES
The DamagePlan Shootings - Columbus, Ohio - Dec 8, 2004
Wed Dec 15, 2004

Today I was contacted by two local Columbus Roadies that were both eyewitnesses to the DamagePlan Shootings exactly one week ago tonight in Columbus Ohio at the Alrosa Villa club. They are members of the local stage crew in Columbus, and work several venues including the Alrosa. "Jon" is the club's stage manager and "Tubbs" is the club's F.O.H. (Front of House Sound Man) and was working monitors that fateful night as he normally did when a national act like DamagePlan played the club. Neither Jon nor Tubbs have spoken publicly until now, even though both have been contacted by several national and local news sources and have been asked for comments. They have chosen to tell their story here to make sure their words are not misrepresented or taken out of context.

Here is their story of those terrible few minutes that have changed their lives forever and taken a close friend from them in the same instant. As Jon emotionally told me, "It was the worst <deleted> thing I have ever seen in my life."

Both Jon and Tubbs said that the afternoon could not have gone any better. The band and their crew were extremely professional and friendly. Jon remembers Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson (the head of the band's security) making sure the local crew all had plenty of water and Dimebag Darrell Abbott even made small talk with some of them during the sound check. "They were all incredible," said Jon. During the day however, a strange man made a nuisance of himself, and was finally told to leave the area by "Mayhem." Hangers-on and Want-ta-bees are common in the music business, and no one figured this guy was really dangerous. This of course turned out to be Nathan Gale, who as we know now ended up shooting six people, and killing four of them later that day. Other than that apparently minor incident, the set-up for the show went remarkably smooth. Tubbs now also remembers that just prior to the show Gale's van was parked behind the band's tour bus, and they announced over the PA several times for the owner to have it moved or it would be towed...which the Gale reportedly did shortly before DamagePlan took the stage.

As the gig was about to start, Jon was on the stage with his roommate and close friend Erin "Stoney" Halk. On the opposite side of the stage stood Jeffrey 'Mayhem' Thompson performing his security duties by scanning the audience for any potential threats to the band. About that time (just a few minutes prior to the band entering the stage) Jon was thirsty, and decided to walk to the bar and get a bottle of water. He told "Stoney" that "the stage is yours" meaning that the responsibility for the security on that side of the stage (stage right) was now his. Stoney motioned a "thumbs up" to verify that he understood. Jon worked his way through the crowd and was near the bar when he heard the first shots. POP, POP, POP...He looked up and saw the horrific sight of Dimebag falling to the ground and the mass confusion unfolding on the stage. His most vivid memory of that moment strangely, is the ear-splitting feedback caused by Dimebag falling on his own guitar. During the next few panic filled minutes he grabbed and pushed people towards the closest door. In a blur of time he eventually ended up making his way towards the stage, grabbing Vinnie Paul Abbott (drummer for DamagePlan and the brother of the now slain guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell) and ushered him to safety.

Tubbs was stage left and watched the entire surreal event unfold just a few feet in front of him. He says he was probably the last person to talk to Dimebag having said something to him as he entered the stage. As the monitor guy for this gig, his mixing console was only about 5 or 6 feet away from the lead guitarist. According to Tubbs, the shooter (Nathan Gale) entered the stage from the stage right area (not from the audience as previously reported) As Gale determinedly ran towards Dimebag the stage right roadie "Stoney" ran after him. "Mayhem" saw Gale and converged on him from stage left. Neither one got to center stage fast enough. Gale fired at least five bullets at point blank range into the doomed artist's body. The final bullet was a fatal head shot fired as he went down. "He was dead before he hit the stage", says Tubbs. "The way the attack happened, nothing could have saved him...nothing," He also remembers the feedback (a droning hum at about 600 Hz, notes the trained ear of the audio tech)

The next few minutes were confused, but this is what else Tubbs remembers.

As Dimebag hit the floor the shooter now turned his attention to Tubbs (still only about five feet away). Gale raised the gun and aimed it at Tubbs who was now literally looking down the barrel of the gun. However, before he could shoot Tubbs, the two Roadies ("Stoney" and "Mayhem") tackled Gale from opposite sides. Neither one had a weapon, and both were putting their own lives at risk to try to stop the shooter from killing anyone else. Erin "Stoney" Halk was an ex-Marine and Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson was a massive 6'1'' man and a very scary looking dude, so I'm sure they both thought they had a better than even chance to disarm the gunman. They were wrong. We now know that Nathan Gale was also a trained ex-Marine and he dropped his first empty clip and slapped another one in the semi-automatic 9 mm pistol in the blink of an eye. He killed both of these heroes within seconds of his first victim. Gale had at least five clips of bullets and he reloaded at least once, but probably twice, says Tubbs. As "Stoney" and "Mayhem" died making the ultimate sacrifice, two more roadies and several members of the audience also rose to the occasion and stormed the stage. Chris Paluska (the DamagePlan Tour Manager) took a shot to the stomach, and is still in serious condition in a local hospital (according to the most recent report). John "Kat" Brooks (the band's drum roadie) also took a hit (but thankfully has now been released from the hospital). According to Tubbs, both were definitely trying to subdue Gale. About the same time several members of the audience climbed the crowd barrier protecting the stage, and some tried to help "Dimebag" with CPR while others made their own attempts to subdue the shooter. (MORE HEROES). Tubbs believes that Nathen Bray (the only "civilian" casualty) was actually killed because he was one of those fans that climbed the stage. Tubbs does not believe that any shots were directed at the fleeing audience at any time (again contrary to published media reports). While all these failed attempts of these unarmed heroes attacking an armed gunman were happening, both Tubbs and Jon noticed several police officers quietly entering the club. Most of them took defensive positions, apparently waiting for more back up. Directly disputing published police reports they both claim that the officer that eventually killed Gale was NOT the first officer on the scene. He appeared however to be the first officer that decided to do something about the situation. Seeing that Gale had a hostage and that he was temporarily distracted by the waves of roadies and fans trying to disarm him, the officer shot the perpetrator from behind with a shotgun blast killing him instantly. With that shot, the hostage was released, and the carnage finally ended. The entire incident lasted only a few minutes.

There are reports that there may be some home video of the event. Tubbs seriously doubts that. Any camcorder would have been "smuggled" into the venue since cameras were forbidden per the terms of the band's contract. Any available video images would probably come from low quality camera cell phones and would probably only be still photos. None have surfaced as of this writing, but the police may have any existing images impounded as evidence.

As you can see there is more to this story than has generally been reported. According to Jon and Tubbs there were AT LEAST SIX and possibly more TRUE HEROES that night at the Alrosa Villa club. Certainly the police officers risked their lives and deserve our thanks and accolades. Officer James D. Niggemeyer probably saved many lives by taking the intuitive and ending the bloodshed and should be duly honored for his heroics. So too should we honor Erin "Stoney" Halk (who Tubbs emotionally credits with saving his own life), Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson, Nathen Bray, Chris Paluska, and John "Kat" Brooks. Heroes all. Four Roadies and a Fan that disregarded their own safety to protect others. The surviving band members and the 250+ members of the audience may in fact owe their very lives to these heroes. I know Tubbs believes he does.

Tubbs and Jon are both having a hard time dealing with the memories of that night, and they both want to remain out of the public eye. I hope that everyone respects their wishes. They both felt however that a corrected version of this event was important and should be told so that the dead and wounded can be properly honored as heroes... hence this article.

They wanted me to tell everyone that both of them, as well as the entire Alrosa crew, the local Columbus stagehands, the Alrosa club owner and employees, and the family of Erin Halk all deeply appreciate the prayers, the condolences, and the outpouring of love that has been expressed this week in response to this senseless act. They would like everyone to continue to pray for the survivors, the victims, and the victim's families (including the family of Nathan Gale).

Finally I asked Jon and Tubbs if they would stay in the entertainment business after this traumatic experience.

Without hesitation they both said... "Hell yes!"

[ABlairican Pie]

I read that on the Pantera.com site. That was so messed up.

I read on the Pantera chat that some of these knuckleheads want to take it out on the killer's mom for getting him a gun. They say stupid crap like "Payback can be a bitch, MF!" OMG. These buffoons want to stoop to the level of Dimebag's shooter and act in revenge. Very mature. ohno: I'm sure the guy's mom now feels terrible for getting him a gun.

[Mossopp]

It certainly was extremely foolish of her to buy her son a gun, knowing full well he was mentally unstable. I do feel bad for her though because she will never be able to mourn her son properly. I can just imagine p#ssed-off Pantera and Damageplan fans making pilgrimages to Gale's grave with the sole intention of vandalising/destroying it.
I also worry for Phil Anselmo's safety. I know some people blame his comments in Metal Hammer for kickstarting this whole chain of events.

[Janice]

The Memorial photo that Mossopp posted a few posts ago took me by surprise. Darrel Abbott was very handsome. I mean no disrespect, but his onstage appearance didn't appeal to me, for no other reason than that's not my type.

That photo shows what a nice face he had...beautiful eyes.

What a crying shame this happened. It's has a surreal feeling about it.

[ABlairican Pie]

Originally posted by Janice
The Memorial photo that Mossopp posted a few posts ago took me by surprise. Darrel Abbott was very handsome. I mean no disrespect, but his onstage appearance didn't appeal to me, for no other reason than that's not my type.

That photo shows what a nice face he had...beautiful eyes.

What a crying shame this happened. It's has a surreal feeling about it. I'm sure Dimebag would have appreciated those compliments!!:cool: :D

[ABlairican Pie]

As a slain guitarist's fans gathered in Texas to honor their favorite performer, a mother mourned in private in Ohio, knowing that her son is responsible for four deaths, NBC 4's Holly Hollingsworth reported.

Thousands of people turned out for a memorial Tuesday for "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was shot and killed Dec. 8 along with three other people at his band DAMAGEPLAN's concert at Alrosa Villa in Columbus. Nathan Gale (photo) committed the murders, and was killed himself by a policeman during the incident.

Meanwhile, funeral plans and the burial site of Gale, 25, of Marysville, are shrouded in secrecy.

Gale's mother, Mary Clark, spoke exclusively Wednesday with NBC 4 about her son and the incident that unfolded last week.

The one thing Clark repeated over and over was her apology to the victims and the families left behind, Hollingsworth reported.

Clark said Gale lives in her memory as a beloved son.

"We were pretty close," Clark said.

Clark confirmed to NBC 4 that her son suffered from a mental illness. She said he was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic last year when he was sent home from the Marine Corps on an early medical discharge.

"And I still didn't understand the whole thing, but he came home with his medications, and I don't know if he took them or not," Clark said.

Gale hardly talked with his mother about the diagnosis after that, Hollingsworth reported.

"I don't know if he was afraid to, or ... ashamed to, or ... didn't believe it himself," Clark said.

Clark said her son's fixation on the band PANTERA peaked about eight years ago when he was in high school.

"He had it in his head that those were his lyrics," Clark said of PANTERA's music. "And nobody was going to change his mind."

Clark said she told her son it was nonsense. She said he had not brought up the band to her in the years since.

Clark said that while Gale was fixated on PANTERA in high school, Clark thought that problem stemmed from some drug issues, which she believed her son had since worked through.

"It seemed like he ... he put it out of his mind," Clark said. "It seemed like, OK, everything was better."

It was only with last week's shooting that Clark realized everything was not better, Hollingsworth reported.

"Maybe I wasn't looking for it," Clark said. "Maybe I wasn't in tune, you know? I should have been looking for signs, and I didn't."

But to Officer James Niggemeyer, who she says had no choice but to shoot and kill her son, she said thanks.

"I commend that man for saving the lives of others," Clark said.

Perhaps the greatest weight on Clark's heart and mind is what she knows about the handgun her son used in the shooting, Hollingsworth reported.

"When he came home for Christmas the year he was in the service, I was so proud of that man for cleaning up his life the way he did," Clark said. "And I bought him that gun. I'll never, never be able to live that part down."

Clark said Gale's mental health diagnosis came after the gun purchase.

Clark believed giving her son the gun was OK because he was a Marine and because he wanted to have a nice sidearm. She said she did not think he ever carried it.

Clark said she never saw any dangerous side to her son that might have made her try to get the gun back.

Clark has spent the past week searching for answers about why her son would kill, Hollingsworth reported.

"I have such remorse for those families, and I am so sorry that they are losing their loved ones," Clark said. "Their sons, brothers, fathers."

The only beginnings of answers Clark said she can offer come from notebooks she found in her son's apartment this week.

In one, Gale wrote that two things got him to where he is. One was that he "could not see [his] own thoughts".

"And the other is, 'Growing up not knowing my own thoughts,' " Clark said. "This is what I think paranoid schizophrenia really is."

Clark said she continues to struggle with what happened, and wonders what more she could have done.

"You don't know until you're there," she said. "Until somebody's sitting here, with their son, doing something so horrific. They'll never know."

[Mossopp]

From the latest issue of Kerrang!:

"The Brightest Star In Texas Is Shining Tonight"
Family, Friends & Fans Pay Tribute To Dimebag Darrell
NEARLY 5,000 fans and friends packed out Arlington Convention Centre in Texas on Tuesday December 14 to say goodbye to Dimebag Darrell Abbott, who was shot dead onstage in Ohio on December 8.
As well as the large number of fans, who waited in the freezing cold to get into the service, Dimebag’s brother and bandmate Vinnie Paul Abbott, Damageplan's Pat Lachman, former Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell, Eddie Van Halen and former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist Zakk Wylde were also in attendance.
Vinnie Paul Abbott took the stage, holding a life-size cut-out of his brother close to him.
“Darrell Abbott gave his heart to everyone,” he said. "He went down doing something he loved; he loved playing guitar. The brightest star in Texas is shining tonight. That's my brother, Dimebag. Give it up.”
Earlier in the day, a small procession of limousines left Dimebag’s Dalworthington Gardens home for the funeral service, which his family had requested remain a private affair.
Cantrell, Van Halen and members of Slipknot attended the funeral.
Dimebag's former Pantera bandmate Phil Anselmo travelled to Dallas for Dimebag's funeral but the former Pantera frontman reveals that he didn't attend out of respect for the Abbott family.
"They do not want me there," he reveals in a videotaped statement released to the American media on December 14 . "I believe I belong there, but I understand completely. I wish his family the least grief they could ever have. I love him like a brother loves a brother. I'm so sorry to his family and everyone else who was senselessly killed in Columbus, Ohio.
"I never got a chance to say goodbye in the right way and it kills me, and I'm so sorry," Anselmo adds. "This has changed the entire world, and this is the last you'll be seeing of me for a long time."

This issue also contained a 'Dimebag Darrell Poster Special'. I agree with Janice - Dime was actually quite a handsome man. I think that's something a lot of people never really noticed because perhaps they were put-off by his tattoos or his image or whatever.

[ABlairican Pie]

Would everyone have gone for his purple beard a few years back?