What the crap. Why is it that the most talented and loved musicians always get taken away? Tupac, Biggie, Jimi, John, Cliff, Stevie Ray, Randy, Buddy...the list goes on. And if you can't recognize those people from their first names, then you probably aren't much of a music connoisseur. Regardless, last night in Columbus, Ohio, one of metal's most beloved and absolutely awesome guitarists was shot and killed. That man was "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott.
Dimebag, along with his brother Vinnie Paul (who was NOT killed), was one of the founding members of Pantera in the early 1980's. Pantera broke up a couple years ago when singer Phil Anselmo decided he'd rather do other side projects. So Dime and Vinnie started a new band - Damageplan.
Last night Damageplan was playing a gig in downtown Columbus to about 200 fans. They were about 30 seconds into their first song when a man jumped on stage, yelled at the band and then fired five or six times first at Dimebag. The crowd fled and a policeman outside the club hurried in and shot and killed the assassin. Including the killer, five are dead.
This marks a low point in metal. And I'm really pissed off. I don't understand why anyone would want to kill Dime. There really aren't any big "wars" like the whole East coast/West coast Biggie/Tupac stuff. There isn't. I'm pretty well adjusted when it comes to the metal community and there's no real hating going on. Well aside from everything thinking Good Charlotte and the like blow ass. But that's just obvious. I want to know who the hell would have such a grudge against Dime. In every interview I've read with Dime and back when he used to write a guitar lesson column in Guitar World magazine, he's always seemed like a really nice, down-to-earth guy.
I know this column hasn't been very funny (yea, Jason like most of 'em, ha ha ha. shut up), but I had to get all this off my chest. Dime was a guitar god as far as heavy music goes. Within just a few hours of the incident happening, other metal acts like Anthrax and Black Label Society had posted comments and memorials on their websites.
Howard Jones (singer) of Killswitch Engage had the most heartfelt and vastly agreed upon sentiments: "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."
The next time I drink a beer, I'm pourin' one for my homie.
RIP - Dimebag Darrell Abbott - Pantera, Damageplan 1966-2004
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