Dimebag Darrell

"Wielding some of the tightest rhythm playing along with some the most otherworldly lead playing that has ever graced heavy music, Pantera guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott is undoubtedly one of the most talented and influential heavy metal guitarists. [...] Dimebag brought a new level to heavy songwriting and shreddy guitar playing throughout the ‘90s and early 2000s. Infusing his love for blues, KISS, Van Halen and Slayer [his music] helped to pioneer the drop-tuned groovey guitar style that the vast majority of modern metal scene has sworn by."

"No one deserves to die the way that Dimebag died. It all occurred on that fateful night in Columbus, Ohio at the Alrosa Villa club on December 8, 2004. Darrell was onstage playing with his band at the time, Damageplan, when a murderous, psychopathic ex Marine jumped on stage and the gunfire erupted. The motive for the rampage was resentment over the breakup of the great, Pantera. Darrel was shot close range and killed, but there were other victims that night, including 23-year-old fan Nathan Bray, Damageplan crew member Jeff “Mayhem” Thompson, 40, and club employee Erin A. Halk, 29. Dimebag’s brother, and Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul was also shot and injured in the horrific events. The terrifying ordeal ended when SWAT team officers stormed the club, and killed the shooter after a standoff. This brutal, and very graphic scene can be seen on VH1’s series Behind The Music. Of course, the shooter’s death failed to bring any solace to Dimebag’s family friends and legions of fans. Many mourn his loss to this day, including so many other of his peers and colleagues in heavy metal and hard rock. This was such a senseless death, and December 8, 2004 was truly one of the darkest days in metal’s history."