On Dec. 8, 2004 (the 24th anniversary of the deadly shooting of John Lennon), “Dimebag” Darrell, guitarist of the bands Damageplan and Pantera, was shot to death on stage during a performance at a Columbus, Ohio nightclub. He was 38.
Take Phil Lynott, Helen Keller, Ted Nugent, Abraham Lincoln, Ace Frehley, Jimmy Page, Gertrude Stein, Django Reinhardt, Eddie Van Halen, Chopin, Hendrix, Georges Sand, Lee “Scratch” Perry, Erik Satie, Chuck Berry, Tommy Iommi, Fidel Castro and Randy Rhodes into a blender, add some Wild Turkey and set to liquefy. When it is done liquefying, drink it and you know what you got? You got “Dimebag” Darrell juice in your tums my good friend.
In the year 1990, Mr. “Dimebag” Darrell “Diamond” Abbot saved Heavy Metal with crazy-ass guitar solos that sound like a bunch of bugs dying and accidents on the autobahn and a train crashing into a nerd and a baby laughing at spring. He really did buy his first real six-string at the five-and-dime and played it until his fingers bled. Have you listened to the solo on “Becoming” off the 1994 Pantera album Far Beyond Driven? What the hell is going on? It’s some John Cage ass, “Vespers,” tape-music, Braxton large ensemble craziness on a multi-platinum selling heavy metal record! Dime’s dive bomb whammy bar conclusion makes me seriously feel like I am going to die. It kicks so much ass that my life flashes before my eyes. Neeeeeuuuuuw-boooooom! Top that shit Trey!
People do not like to listen to Pantera with me anymore. Everyone wanted to rock out to the ‘tera boys when I was thirteen, but not now. I guess I just hang out with the wrong crowd. Okay. Pantera can sound like “Nu Metal.” Without Pantera there would be no Korn. Without Pantera there would be no Limp Bizkit, Godsmack, Deftones, Limpsmack, Hoobatones etc. However, without Pantera there would be no…me.
If you want to really listen to Pantera you have to pretend that “Nu Metal” does not exist and think about the sad state of Heavy Metal was in the year 1990. On one side we had the stale, tedious, clichéd hair metal anthems and ballads of the 1980’s Rock and Roll dinosaurs like Poison, Motley Crue, and Extreme. On the other side we had the baroque, mathy, Thrash Metal of Megadeth, Metallica, and Slayer and the tasteless and mindlessly aggressive up and coming Death Metal scene led by Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel and Napalm Death.
Just when you thought that Rock and Roll had strayed so far from its blues roots that it would never return… Enter Pantera! They killed everyone with their shredding, pentatonic, dustbowl, indulgent, fucking 17 over 4 time signature, 18 key changes in one song, kick ass, beer guzzling, goddamn Heavy fucking Metal straight out of Texas. Have you ever tried to play a Pantera song on piano? Impossible! How would I classify them? Um… I don’t know… Jazz? Who cares, they are the best band ever.
What really matters is that “Dimebag” was not only a sick guitarist and an amazing songwriter but he was a journalist (occasional columns in Guitar magazine), a collector of guitars, and a good father (I actually am not sure if he has kids). He taught the world that it is okay to smoke pot and listen to heavy metal. He looked exactly like a Washburn 333 flying-V. His name was “Dimebag!” He hadn’t cut his hair or shaved since 1995. Though he was 38, he showed no signs of male pattern baldness.
But seriously, “Dimebag,” you are the reason I started playing guitar. You are the reason I go to Wesleyan. You are the reason I wake up in the morning. Even if I smoked your ashes I still couldn’t play a solo half as ass-ripping as you, bro. You’re my favorite guitarist and…I love you and miss you. Pour some liquor on the floor for the “Dime.” My condolences to the Abbot Family.
Rest in Peace
Darrell Lance Abbot
Born: August 20, 1966
Died: December 8, 2004
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