Dimebag Darrell
Encyclopedia
Darrell Lance Abbott also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist. He was best known as a founding member of the heavy metal
bands Pantera
and Damageplan
. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel
, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe
. Along with fellow Pantera member Rex Brown
, he is considered one of the driving forces behind groove metal
. Abbott was shot and killed while on stage during a Damageplan performance on December 8, 2004, at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio
. The mentally unstable shooter was killed by police officer James D. Niggemeyer at the scene.
, a country musician and producer. He took up guitar when he was 12, and his first guitar was a Hondo Les Paul he got with a small amp. Winning a series of local guitar competitions, most notably held at The Agora Ballroom in Dallas, where he was awarded a Dean ML, he sold it to Buddy Blaze, who put a Floyd Rose bridge on it and gave it Dimebag's signature lighting bolt paint job and then gave it back to him years later. Coincidentally, his father had bought him a cherryburst finish Dean ML standard the morning before the competition, so he only had a few hours of playing time on it. Eventually, according to friend and family interviews in Guitar World Magazine, Abbott was barred from competing in guitar competitions because he gave the other contestants no chance to win. These contest prizes, including his first Randall Amplifier, started a long-term relationship with the brands.
Abbott formed Pantera
in 1981 with his brother Vinnie Paul
on drums. The band played with acts such as Slayer
, Megadeth
, Venom
, and Metallica
, as well as traditional metal bands such as Black Sabbath
, Iron Maiden
, Motörhead, and Judas Priest
. Pantera subsequently became a key formulator of the post-thrash subgenre of "groove" metal
. It would not be until nine years after forming that Pantera saw its first piece of commercial success in its 1990 major label debut, Cowboys from Hell
. Pantera's "groove" style came to fruition in its breakthrough album Vulgar Display of Power
, released on February 25, 1992, which saw the replacement of the power metal falsetto vocals with a hardcore-influenced shouted delivery and heavier guitar sound. In 1994, Abbott dropped the nickname "Diamond Darrell" and assumed the nickname "Dimebag Darrell."
Pantera began to suffer from mounting tensions between band members in the mid-1990s, largely due to vocalist Phil Anselmo
's rampant drug abuse. In 2003 the group went on an extended hiatus but never formally broke up. Anselmo left the band for other projects, such as Superjoint Ritual
and Down
.
After a year, brothers Vinnie and "Dimebag" formed Damageplan, a heavy metal band which also used the Pantera-style groove metal sound. The Abbott brothers recruited former Halford
guitarist Pat Lachman on vocals, and Bob Zilla on bass. Damageplan released its debut album New Found Power
in the United States on February 10, 2004, which debuted at number 38 on the Billboard 200
, selling 44,676 copies in its first week.
When writing music for the new group, "Dimebag" said that "we wanted to stretch out and expand our capabilities to their fullest."
to join thrash band Megadeth
. Abbott was willing to join, but on the condition that Mustaine also hired his brother Vinnie on drums. As Mustaine had already hired drummer Nick Menza
, Abbott stayed with Pantera.
In 1992, Pantera teamed up with Rob Halford
(of Judas Priest
) for a track called "Light Comes Out of Black". Abbott played all the guitar parts, Rex Brown played bass, Vinnie Paul played drums, Rob Halford sang lead vocals, and Philip Anselmo sang backing vocals. This song was released on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer
soundtrack on July 28, 1992. In 1996, Abbott contributed the Ace Frehley
song "Fractured Mirror" to the Ace tribute album Spacewalk: A Salute To Ace Frehley. Then in 1997 a new Ace Frehley tribute album called Return Of The Comet: A Tribute to Ace Frehley was released. The two Abbott brothers covered Ace's song "Snowblind" on track 7. On and off between 1996 and the formation of Damageplan
, the Abbott brothers and Pantera bassist Rex Brown
teamed up with country singer David Allan Coe
for a project called Rebel Meets Rebel
. The album was released May 2, 2006 on Vinnie's Big Vin Records
label.
Abbott played guest guitar solos on several Anthrax
songs during their John Bush
era: "King Size" & "Riding Shotgun" from Stomp 442
, "Inside Out" & "Born Again Idiot" from Volume 8: The Threat Is Real
, "Strap It On" and "Cadillac Rock Box" (with a voice intro from Dimebag as well) from We've Come for You All
. In a recent interview, Anthrax bassist Frank Bello
said "Darrell was basically the sixth member of Anthrax". Abbott also performed a solo on the titular track of King Diamond
's Voodoo
album. A sample from a guitar solo by Abbott was used in the Nickelback
song "Side of a Bullet", and he also played guitar on Nickelback's cover of Elton John
's Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
along with Kid Rock
.
In 1999, Pantera recorded a theme tune for their favourite ice hockey team, The Dallas Stars, called 'Puck-Off'. The song was eventually released in 2003 on the album 'Dallas Stars: Greatest Hits'. In 2000, Abbott played the guitar solo on Believer for the new Randy Rhoads tribute album. Vocals were by Sebastian Bach
, rhythm guitars by Kane Roberts
, drums by Michael Cartellone
, and bass by Mike Bringardello. This was the only track that Abbott contributed to on this album.
Shortly before Abbott's death, he went into the studio with a band named Premenishen to do a guest solo on a track titled "Eyes of the South." He was also confirmed as one of the original guitar player choices for Liquid Tension Experiment
by Mike Portnoy
. Abbott's musical roots were in country western
music; he supported the local music scene in Dallas and sometimes recorded with local musicians. He played in a country band called Rebel Meets Rebel
with country performer David Allan Coe
.
In December 2006, a rare track of one of his collaborations was discovered. Abbott had sat in on a recording session with local Dallas musician "Throbbin Donnie" Rodd and recorded "Country Western Transvestite Whore". It features Dimebag on lead guitar and lead vocals. Abbott and his brother Vinnie Paul along with Rex (during the Pantera Era) and Bob Zilla (Damageplan Era) performed at their New Years party every year under the name "Gasoline", originally the name of a group featuring Dimebag and Vinnie plus Thurber T. Mingus of Pumpjack
. Stroker of Pumpjack also played with Gasoline on several occasions. Dimebag, Vinnie and Rex also recorded a cover of the ZZ Top
song "Heard It on the X" under the band name "Tres Diablos" for ECW
wrestling's Extreme Music soundtrack.
On December 8, 2004, Abbott was shot to death onstage while performing with Damageplan at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio. The gunman, Nathan Gale
, shot Abbott three times in the head using a 9mm handgun; the third shot killed him instantly. Gale continued shooting, killing three others and wounding a further seven. Gale fired a total of fifteen shots, stopping to reload once and remaining silent throughout the shooting.
Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson, the band's head of security, was killed tackling Gale, as was Alrosa Villa employee Erin Halk. Audience member Nathan Bray was killed while trying to perform CPR on Abbott and Thompson. It was rumored that one crowd member leapt in front of the gunman, saving the lives of several band members. Damageplan drum technician, John "Kat" Brooks, was shot three times as he attempted to get the gun away from Gale, but was overpowered and taken hostage in a headlock position. Tour manager Chris Paluska was also injured.
Seven police officers came in the front entrance, led by Officer Rick Crum, and moved toward the stage. Officer James D. Niggemeyer came in through the back door, behind the stage. Gale only saw the officers in front of the stage; he never saw Officer Niggemeyer, who was armed with a 12 gauge
Remington 870
shotgun. He approached Gale from the opposite side of the stage to avoid hitting the hostage and fired a single shot, striking Gale in the face with eight of the nine buckshot pellets. Gale was found to have had 35 rounds of ammunition remaining.
Nurse and audience member Mindy Reece, 28, went to the aid of Abbott, and she and another fan administered CPR
until paramedics arrived, but were unable to revive him.
In May 2005, Officer Niggemeyer testified before the Franklin County
grand jury, which is routine procedure in Franklin County after a police shooting. The grand jury did not indict
Niggemeyer, finding that his actions were justified. Niggemeyer received a commendation from the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission for his outstanding police work in a time of crisis as well as the National Rifle Association
award as 2005 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. The five other officers that were first on the scene received Ohio distinguished law enforcement medals for their efforts. In 2006 James Niggemeyer penned the foreword to a book written about the event A Vulgar Display of Power: Courage and Carnage at the Alrosa Villa.
Early theories of motive suggested that Gale might have turned to violence in response to the breakup of Pantera, or the public dispute between Abbott and Pantera singer Phil Anselmo, but these were later ruled out by investigators. Another theory was that Gale believed Abbott had stolen a song that he had written. In the book, A Vulgar Display Of Power, several of Gale's personal writings, given to the author by his mother, suggest that the gunman was not angry about Pantera's breakup or a belief that Pantera had "stolen songs"; instead, the documents suggest that Gale's paranoid schizophrenia caused delusions that the band could read his mind, and that they were "stealing" his thoughts and laughing at him.
Abbott's grave is located at the Moore Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Texas. He is buried alongside his mother.
He was buried with Eddie Van Halen
's black and yellow-striped Charvel electric guitar (sometimes referred to as "Bumblebee"), which was pictured with Van Halen on the inner sleeve and back cover of the album Van Halen II
. Dimebag had asked for one of these guitars in 2004, shortly before he was shot. Edward Van Halen originally agreed to make Darrell a copy of the guitar, but upon hearing of Abbott's death, offered to place the actual guitar in his casket. Dimebag was buried in a KISS Kasket
. Inspired by the rock 'n' roll group KISS, he requested in his will that he be buried in one of the famous coffins. Kiss
co-founder Gene Simmons
said, "There were a limited number made and I sent mine to the family of 'Dimebag' Darrell. He requested in his will to be buried in a Kiss Kasket, as he sort of learned his rock 'n' roll roots by listening to us for some strange reason."
, there would have been no "Dimebag" Darrell - he even had a tattoo of the "KISS" guitarist on his chest. Frehley signed the tattoo in pen ink upon meeting him, at Dimebag's request, and then the autograph was later painstakingly tattooed over, to never to be washed off. In an interview asking why he chose to become a guitar player Abbott said that when he was young his father asked him if he wanted a BMX
bike or a guitar for his birthday and he chose the BMX but after listening to a Black Sabbath album for the first time he went to his father to try to trade the bike for the guitar.
In the late 1980s, around the time of Power Metal
, Abbott often covered songs by guitarist Joe Satriani
, such as "Crushing Day". He also incorporated elements of Satriani songs like "Echo" into his live solos as well. Abbott stated in various interviews, that his riffs were largely influenced by Tony Iommi
of Black Sabbath. Iommi influenced Dimebag's tunings, which often went down to C# or lower. Pantera covered Black Sabbath songs "Planet Caravan
", "Hole In the Sky" and "Electric Funeral
."
Abbott cited thrash giants Anthrax
, Metallica
, and despite a sometimes vicious feud, Megadeth as primary influences. He was also a fan of Slayer
and a good friend of Kerry King
. Dimebag mentioned in an interview with Guitar World
that the clean chord passages in the intro to Cemetery Gates
were influenced by the clean chordal passages found in much of Ty Tabor's
(King's X
) playing. As with Billy Gibbons
, Abbott frequently made use of pentatonic scales and pinch harmonics in both his leads and rhythms. Both guitarists employ blues scales, start / stop dynamics and pedal tones, as in Abbott's southern style riff in "The Great Southern Trendkill" and the main riff to ZZ Top's "Tush". Randy Rhoads-style chord arpeggios can be heard in much of Abbott's playing as well, noted examples being "Floods", "Shedding Skin", "The Sleep" and "This Love". Three of Abbott's solos
were ranked in Guitar World magazine's top 100 of all-time: "Walk" (#57), "Cemetery Gates
" (#35), and "Floods
" (#15).
Abbott stated that "Eddie Van Halen
was heavy rock and roll, but Randy was heavy metal". Eddie Van Halen, whom Abbott had befriended, placed his original black with yellow stripes guitar (commonly called "bumblebee") into the Kiss Kasket
Abbott was buried in. Abbott had mentioned to Van Halen that he liked that color combination the best of the latter's guitars (the guitar appears on the back sleeve of Van Halen's second album Van Halen II
) and Van Halen was going to paint one that way for him. Abbott credited Vito Rulez of Chauncy for convincing him to try Bill Lawrence pickups.
Pete Willis
of Def Leppard
was seen as another major influence for Darrell. In his Guitar World magazine tribute issue, Abbott was quoted as saying, "Man, that first Leppard album really jams, and their original guitarist, Pete Willis, was a great player. I was inspired by him because I was a small young dude and he was a small young dude, too—and he was out there kickin’ ass. He made me want to get out there and play. Def Leppard used the two-guitar thing much more back then than they do now."
According to an interview with Dino Cazares
of Fear Factory
, Abbott told him that during the recording of Reinventing the Steel
he compared his guitar tone with Dino's. Incidentally, during the making of Fear Factory's Demanufacture
, Cazares compared his guitar tone against that of Vulgar Display of Power
. Abbott co-designed a guitar with Dean just months before his death. Called the Razorback
, it was a modified version of the ML. It is more pointed and has extra barbs on the wings. The design spawned variations, such as a 24-fret version, different paint jobs including a flamed maple top with natural finish, EMG pickups, and also helped with the design of the V-shaped version, the Razorback V
(lacking the neck-pointing front wing).
Dean issued a tribute guitar to honor Abbott's death, featuring the tribute logo on the neck, a razor inlay on the 12th fret, and hand-painted "rusty-metal"-style graphics. The pickups include a Dimebucker at the Bridge and a DiMarzio Super Distortion at the neck. The tremolo is a Floyd Rose double-locking, and the knobs are the Dimebag Traction knobs. They use all-black hardware, and almost all of them have 22 frets, a Floyd Rose tremolo, Seymour Duncan pickups (including the SH-13 Dimebucker) and set-neck construction.
since the 1980s and early days of Pantera. He is best known for playing a Dean ML guitar with Bill Lawrence
L500XL pickups, which he would install in a reversed position to have the "hot" blade facing the neck. His signature guitar is called the "Dean From Hell". It was originally maroon. He sold it and then it circled back to him through Buddy Blaze who repainted. Buddy Blaze also builds guitars for sale now which is based in Hawaii. During a interview before his death, he claimed that as a kid, it was always his dream to play Dean Guitars
.
When Dean Guitars went out of business, Darrell signed a 10-year contract with Washburn
from 1994 to 2004. In late 2004, he switched back to Dean guitars, who were back in business. Seymour Duncan
manufactures a signature pickup co-designed by Dimebag, the SH-13 Dimebucker
. He proudly endorsed the pickup manufacture, but continued to use Bill Lawrence pickups in most of his personal guitars. Several months before his death, Darrell ended his long relationship with Washburn, cutting short the Washburn custom shop production of 100 Southern Cross guitars. He became a Dean endorser once again, coinciding with founder Dean Zelinsky
's return. Dean built him a brand new signature guitar—the Dime O' Flame, which he began using live.
As a tribute to Abbott, in 2005 Dean Guitars released the new Dime Tribute line of ML guitars. These guitars come in various models, ranging from lower priced models to higher end models with SH-13 Dimebuckers, a Floyd Rose
bridge, and set-neck construction. In his last few weeks with Dean, Dime helped design a guitar that he called the Razorback. After Darrell's death, Dean continued with the Razorback project and dedicated the guitars to his memory. During the height of Dimebag's fame, he also worked together with MXR and Dunlop to produce the MXR Dime Distortion and the Dimebag "Crybaby from Hell" Wah respectively.
A few weeks before his death, Darrell left Randall Amplifiers. Dimebag had always sworn by his solid-state Randalls, but in late 2004 he switched to Krank Amplifiers
, which were purely tube driven. He planned to redefine his very own sound by developing the Krankenstein. He used the MXR Zakk Wylde Overdrive
with the Krank amps.
Glam-era (1981–1988) Cowboys From Hell (1990), The Great Southern Trendkill (1996)
Vulgar Display Of Power (1992), Far Beyond Driven (1994)
Reinventing The Steel (2000), New Found Power (2004)
(late 2004)
Total Guitar
frequently featured him and wrote about him in the months leading up to his death. One year after his death, they published a tribute issue. The January 2008 issue of Metal Hammer was also dedicated to him. In the March 2008 issue of Guitar World, Abbott was featured on the cover story "Dimebag, The Untold Story," and interviews with his then-guitar techs Grady Champion, Rita Haney and older brother Vinnie Paul Abbott. The January 2010 Guitar World commemorative issue features interviews with Abbott's father and Pantera's manager, Walter O'Brien. The January 2010 issue of Revolver
magazine contains interviews with the remaining band members of Pantera.
magazine column, which was compiled into the book Riffer Madness. He was praised for his tone and was included in "The 50 Greatest Tones of All Time" by Guitar Player
magazine. Remembered for his amiable nature and rapport with fans, Abbott was described by Allmusic as "one of the most influential stylists in modern metal."
listing is as follows:
EP (1998) and We've Come for You All (2003). With Damageplan, Abbott played on the Devastation Sampler (2003) and on the album New Found Power
(2004). With Pantera
, Abbott recorded a number of albums, EPs, singles, and videos, including Power Metal
(1988); Cowboys from Hell (1990); Vulgar Display of Power (1992); and Hostile Moments
(1994). He also recorded albums under his own name, including Country Western Transvestite Whore and Supercop Soundtrack (1996) and he recorded a country music album entitled Rebel Meets Rebel (2004).
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
bands Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
and Damageplan
Damageplan
Damageplan was an American heavy metal supergroup from Dallas, Texas that formed in 2003. Following the demise of their previous group Pantera, brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott wanted to start a new band. The pair recruited former Halford guitarist Pat Lachman on vocals, and later...
. Abbott also contributed to the album Rebel Meets Rebel
Rebel Meets Rebel
Rebel Meets Rebel is a country metal album by David Allan Coe and Pantera members Dimebag Darrell, Rex Brown, and Vinnie Paul. The music was written and recorded by the band when the musicians had time aside from their other projects, including Pantera's world tour supporting Reinventing the...
, a collaboration between Pantera and David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
. Along with fellow Pantera member Rex Brown
Rex Brown
Rex Robert Brown is an American heavy metal bassist. A former member of Down, he is most famous as the longtime bassist for the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling band Pantera.-Pantera:...
, he is considered one of the driving forces behind groove metal
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
. Abbott was shot and killed while on stage during a Damageplan performance on December 8, 2004, at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio
Columbus, Ohio
Columbus is the capital of and the largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio. The broader metropolitan area encompasses several counties and is the third largest in Ohio behind those of Cleveland and Cincinnati. Columbus is the third largest city in the American Midwest, and the fifteenth largest city...
. The mentally unstable shooter was killed by police officer James D. Niggemeyer at the scene.
Early years
Darrell Abbott was born to Carolyn and Jerry AbbottJerry Abbott
Jerry Bob Abbott in Abilene, Texas, is a country music songwriter and record producer from Pantego, Texas. He is also the father of "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, and Vinnie Paul Abbott, both of Pantera, Rebel Meets Rebel and Damageplan....
, a country musician and producer. He took up guitar when he was 12, and his first guitar was a Hondo Les Paul he got with a small amp. Winning a series of local guitar competitions, most notably held at The Agora Ballroom in Dallas, where he was awarded a Dean ML, he sold it to Buddy Blaze, who put a Floyd Rose bridge on it and gave it Dimebag's signature lighting bolt paint job and then gave it back to him years later. Coincidentally, his father had bought him a cherryburst finish Dean ML standard the morning before the competition, so he only had a few hours of playing time on it. Eventually, according to friend and family interviews in Guitar World Magazine, Abbott was barred from competing in guitar competitions because he gave the other contestants no chance to win. These contest prizes, including his first Randall Amplifier, started a long-term relationship with the brands.
Abbott formed Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
in 1981 with his brother Vinnie Paul
Vinnie Paul
Vincent Paul Abbott, also known as "Vinnie Paul" is a heavy metal drummer and producer who is currently a member of supergroup Hellyeah, but is best known for being a member, and co-founder, of the heavy metal band Pantera...
on drums. The band played with acts such as Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
, Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, Venom
Venom (band)
Venom are an English heavy metal band that formed in 1979 in Newcastle upon Tyne. Coming to prominence towards the end of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Venom's first two albums—Welcome to Hell and Black Metal —are considered a major influence on thrash metal and extreme metal in general...
, and Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, as well as traditional metal bands such as Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...
, Motörhead, and Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
. Pantera subsequently became a key formulator of the post-thrash subgenre of "groove" metal
Groove metal
Groove metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. It was often used to describe Pantera and Exhorder.- Characteristics and origins :Pantera's Cowboys from Hell album from 1990 was described as "groundbreaking" and "blueprint-defining" for the groove metal genre...
. It would not be until nine years after forming that Pantera saw its first piece of commercial success in its 1990 major label debut, Cowboys from Hell
Cowboys from Hell
Cowboys from Hell is Pantera's fifth album and their first Atco Records album, recorded at The Dallas Sound Lab in Irving, TX and released on July 24, 1990. This was their first commercially successful album, exposing the band's groove metal style to mainstream audiences...
. Pantera's "groove" style came to fruition in its breakthrough album Vulgar Display of Power
Vulgar Display of Power
Vulgar Display of Power is the sixth studio album by heavy metal band Pantera. It was released through Atco Records, on February 25, 1992. It is the last album where Darrell Abbott is credited as "Diamond Darrell". One of the most influential groove metal albums of the 1990s, Vulgar Display of...
, released on February 25, 1992, which saw the replacement of the power metal falsetto vocals with a hardcore-influenced shouted delivery and heavier guitar sound. In 1994, Abbott dropped the nickname "Diamond Darrell" and assumed the nickname "Dimebag Darrell."
Pantera began to suffer from mounting tensions between band members in the mid-1990s, largely due to vocalist Phil Anselmo
Phil Anselmo
Philip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....
's rampant drug abuse. In 2003 the group went on an extended hiatus but never formally broke up. Anselmo left the band for other projects, such as Superjoint Ritual
Superjoint Ritual
Superjoint Ritual was an American heavy metal band formed by Phil Anselmo, Joe Fazzio, and Jimmy Bower in the early 1990s, later to be joined by Hank Williams III, and Kevin Bond. Their style can be considered a mix of Pantera's style of groove metal and hardcore punk. A small trace of black metal...
and Down
Down (band)
Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...
.
After a year, brothers Vinnie and "Dimebag" formed Damageplan, a heavy metal band which also used the Pantera-style groove metal sound. The Abbott brothers recruited former Halford
Halford (band)
Halford is a heavy metal band formed in 1999 by Rob Halford, the lead vocalist for Judas Priest. Halford formed the band to return to his heavy metal roots...
guitarist Pat Lachman on vocals, and Bob Zilla on bass. Damageplan released its debut album New Found Power
New Found Power
- Personnel :Damageplan* Patrick Lachman − vocals* Dimebag Darrell − guitars, bass * Vinnie Paul − drumsGuest musicians* Corey Taylor - 2nd verse, breakdown, and last chorus on "Fuck You"...
in the United States on February 10, 2004, which debuted at number 38 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, selling 44,676 copies in its first week.
When writing music for the new group, "Dimebag" said that "we wanted to stretch out and expand our capabilities to their fullest."
Other projects
Shortly before singer Phil Anselmo joined Pantera, Abbott was invited by Dave MustaineDave Mustaine
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine is the founder, main songwriter, guitarist, and lead vocalist for the American heavy metal band Megadeth. Prior to Megadeth, Mustaine was the first lead guitarist and a co-songwriter of the heavy metal band Metallica until he was fired from the band in 1983. In 2009, he...
to join thrash band Megadeth
Megadeth
Megadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
. Abbott was willing to join, but on the condition that Mustaine also hired his brother Vinnie on drums. As Mustaine had already hired drummer Nick Menza
Nick Menza
Nick Menza is an American drummer best known for his work in Megadeth from 1989 to 1998, appearing on four of the band's studio albums.-Early life:...
, Abbott stayed with Pantera.
In 1992, Pantera teamed up with Rob Halford
Rob Halford
Robert John Arthur "Rob" Halford is an English singer-songwriter, who is best known as the lead vocalist for the Grammy Award-winning heavy metal band Judas Priest. He is nicknamed the "Metal God" as a tribute to his influence on metal, and after the Judas Priest song of the same name from 1980's...
(of Judas Priest
Judas Priest
Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band from Birmingham, England, formed in 1969. The current line-up consists of lead vocalist Rob Halford, guitarists Glenn Tipton and Richie Faulkner, bassist Ian Hill, and drummer Scott Travis. The band has gone through several drummers over the years,...
) for a track called "Light Comes Out of Black". Abbott played all the guitar parts, Rex Brown played bass, Vinnie Paul played drums, Rob Halford sang lead vocals, and Philip Anselmo sang backing vocals. This song was released on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a 1992 American action/comedy/horror film about a Valley girl cheerleader named Buffy who learns that it is her fate to hunt vampires. The original script for the film was written by Joss Whedon, who later created the darker and more acclaimed TV series of the same name...
soundtrack on July 28, 1992. In 1996, Abbott contributed the Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
song "Fractured Mirror" to the Ace tribute album Spacewalk: A Salute To Ace Frehley. Then in 1997 a new Ace Frehley tribute album called Return Of The Comet: A Tribute to Ace Frehley was released. The two Abbott brothers covered Ace's song "Snowblind" on track 7. On and off between 1996 and the formation of Damageplan
Damageplan
Damageplan was an American heavy metal supergroup from Dallas, Texas that formed in 2003. Following the demise of their previous group Pantera, brothers Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul Abbott wanted to start a new band. The pair recruited former Halford guitarist Pat Lachman on vocals, and later...
, the Abbott brothers and Pantera bassist Rex Brown
Rex Brown
Rex Robert Brown is an American heavy metal bassist. A former member of Down, he is most famous as the longtime bassist for the Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling band Pantera.-Pantera:...
teamed up with country singer David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
for a project called Rebel Meets Rebel
Rebel Meets Rebel
Rebel Meets Rebel is a country metal album by David Allan Coe and Pantera members Dimebag Darrell, Rex Brown, and Vinnie Paul. The music was written and recorded by the band when the musicians had time aside from their other projects, including Pantera's world tour supporting Reinventing the...
. The album was released May 2, 2006 on Vinnie's Big Vin Records
Big Vin Records
Big Vin Records is a record label, based in Arlington, Texas, United States, that was formed in February 2006 by Metal drummer and producer, Vinnie Paul. Big Vin Records has a distribution deal with Fontana Records, which in turn is owned by Universal Music Group. Vinnie became famous for being in...
label.
Abbott played guest guitar solos on several Anthrax
Anthrax (band)
Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
songs during their John Bush
John Bush (singer)
John Bush is an American vocalist, currently a member of Armored Saint, a traditional metal band from Los Angeles, California and formerly of thrash metal band Anthrax.-Armored Saint:...
era: "King Size" & "Riding Shotgun" from Stomp 442
Stomp 442
Stomp 442 is the name of the seventh album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released in 1995, by Elektra Records. The band and Butcher Brothers produced the album, which includes the singles, "Fueled" and "Nothing". The album debuted at #47 on the Billboard 200 charts...
, "Inside Out" & "Born Again Idiot" from Volume 8: The Threat Is Real
Volume 8: The Threat Is Real
Volume 8: The Threat is Real is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. The album was released in July 1998 by Ignition Records. The band and Paul Crook produced the album, which includes the single "Inside Out". Other singles released were "Crush", "P & V" and "Born Again...
, "Strap It On" and "Cadillac Rock Box" (with a voice intro from Dimebag as well) from We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All
We've Come for You All is the ninth studio album by North American heavy metal band Anthrax. It included the singles "What Doesn't Die," "Safe Home," & "Takin' the Music Back." It is considered a comeback album for the band after lackluster commercial success of their previous two records. Despite...
. In a recent interview, Anthrax bassist Frank Bello
Frank Bello
Frank Bello is an American musician who plays bass guitar for the thrash metal band Anthrax. Originally he was a roadie and guitar technician for the band, but later he replaced Dan Lilker on the Spreading the Disease album. After leaving Anthrax in early 2004 Bello joined Helmet - another New...
said "Darrell was basically the sixth member of Anthrax". Abbott also performed a solo on the titular track of King Diamond
King Diamond (band)
King Diamond is the heavy metal band that King Diamond formed after the split up of his heavy metal band Mercyful Fate, and the departure of Hank Shermann. He was joined by most members of the then defunct Mercyful Fate. The Satanic focus was replaced by a focus on horror stories...
's Voodoo
Voodoo (King Diamond album)
Voodoo is a concept album by King Diamond. The album was released in 1998. The album cover is drawn by Kristian Wåhlin.The album was remastered by Andy LaRocque and was re-released in 2009.-Plot:...
album. A sample from a guitar solo by Abbott was used in the Nickelback
Nickelback
Nickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....
song "Side of a Bullet", and he also played guitar on Nickelback's cover of Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
's Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting
"Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting" is a rock song performed by musician Elton John and covered by W.A.S.P., Flotsam and Jetsam, Nickelback , Queen and The Who...
along with Kid Rock
Kid Rock
Robert James "Bob" Ritchie , known by his stage name Kid Rock, is an American singer-songwriter, musician and rapper with five Grammy Awards nominations...
.
In 1999, Pantera recorded a theme tune for their favourite ice hockey team, The Dallas Stars, called 'Puck-Off'. The song was eventually released in 2003 on the album 'Dallas Stars: Greatest Hits'. In 2000, Abbott played the guitar solo on Believer for the new Randy Rhoads tribute album. Vocals were by Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach
Sebastian Bach is a Canadian heavy metal singer who achieved mainstream success as frontman of Skid Row from 1987 to 1996. Since his departure from Skid Row, he has had many television roles, acted within Broadway plays, and leads a successful solo career.-Early life:Bach was born Sebastian...
, rhythm guitars by Kane Roberts
Kane Roberts
Kane Roberts,born Robert William Athas is a heavy metal guitarist best known for his tenure in Alice Cooper's band during the late 1980s...
, drums by Michael Cartellone
Michael Cartellone
Michael Cartellone born in 1962 is the current drummer of Lynyrd Skynyrd , and the former drummer of Damn Yankees and Accept . He is also an accomplished painter, having done so for many years. Before joining Damn Yankees, Tommy Shaw, both of Styx and Damn Yankees, recalled Michael painting...
, and bass by Mike Bringardello. This was the only track that Abbott contributed to on this album.
Shortly before Abbott's death, he went into the studio with a band named Premenishen to do a guest solo on a track titled "Eyes of the South." He was also confirmed as one of the original guitar player choices for Liquid Tension Experiment
Liquid Tension Experiment
Liquid Tension Experiment is an instrumental progressive rock/metal supergroup, founded by Dream Theater's former drummer Mike Portnoy in 1997. The band has released two albums through Magna Carta Records...
by Mike Portnoy
Mike Portnoy
Michael Stephen "Mike" Portnoy is an American drummer primarily known as the former drummer, backing vocalist, and a co-founder of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, as well as the temporary drummer for the hard rock band Avenged Sevenfold. Known for his drumming prowess and technical...
. Abbott's musical roots were in country western
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
music; he supported the local music scene in Dallas and sometimes recorded with local musicians. He played in a country band called Rebel Meets Rebel
Rebel Meets Rebel
Rebel Meets Rebel is a country metal album by David Allan Coe and Pantera members Dimebag Darrell, Rex Brown, and Vinnie Paul. The music was written and recorded by the band when the musicians had time aside from their other projects, including Pantera's world tour supporting Reinventing the...
with country performer David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe
David Allan Coe is an American outlaw country music singer who achieved popularity in the 1970s and 1980s. He has written and performed over 280 original songs throughout his career...
.
In December 2006, a rare track of one of his collaborations was discovered. Abbott had sat in on a recording session with local Dallas musician "Throbbin Donnie" Rodd and recorded "Country Western Transvestite Whore". It features Dimebag on lead guitar and lead vocals. Abbott and his brother Vinnie Paul along with Rex (during the Pantera Era) and Bob Zilla (Damageplan Era) performed at their New Years party every year under the name "Gasoline", originally the name of a group featuring Dimebag and Vinnie plus Thurber T. Mingus of Pumpjack
Pumpjack
A pumpjack is the overground drive for a reciprocating piston pump in an oil well....
. Stroker of Pumpjack also played with Gasoline on several occasions. Dimebag, Vinnie and Rex also recorded a cover of the ZZ Top
ZZ Top
ZZ Top is an American rock band, sometimes referred to as "That Little Ol' Band from Texas". Their style, which is rooted in blues-based boogie rock, has come to incorporate elements of arena, southern, and boogie rock. The band, from Houston Texas, formed in 1969...
song "Heard It on the X" under the band name "Tres Diablos" for ECW
ECW
ECW may refer to:Professional wrestling* Extreme Championship Wrestling, a professional wrestling promotion that operated from 1992 to 2001...
wrestling's Extreme Music soundtrack.
Death
Nathan Gale
Nathan M. Gale was a former American Marine who is known for having murdered former Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell and three others during a Damageplan concert at the Alrosa Villa club in Columbus, Ohio, on December 8, 2004.-Life:Nathan M. Gale was born in Calumet City, Illinois, and raised...
, shot Abbott three times in the head using a 9mm handgun; the third shot killed him instantly. Gale continued shooting, killing three others and wounding a further seven. Gale fired a total of fifteen shots, stopping to reload once and remaining silent throughout the shooting.
Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson, the band's head of security, was killed tackling Gale, as was Alrosa Villa employee Erin Halk. Audience member Nathan Bray was killed while trying to perform CPR on Abbott and Thompson. It was rumored that one crowd member leapt in front of the gunman, saving the lives of several band members. Damageplan drum technician, John "Kat" Brooks, was shot three times as he attempted to get the gun away from Gale, but was overpowered and taken hostage in a headlock position. Tour manager Chris Paluska was also injured.
Seven police officers came in the front entrance, led by Officer Rick Crum, and moved toward the stage. Officer James D. Niggemeyer came in through the back door, behind the stage. Gale only saw the officers in front of the stage; he never saw Officer Niggemeyer, who was armed with a 12 gauge
Gauge (bore diameter)
The gauge of a firearm is a unit of measurement used to express the diameter of the barrel. Gauge is determined from the weight of a solid sphere of lead that will fit the bore of the firearm, and is expressed as the multiplicative inverse of the sphere's weight as a fraction of a pound . Thus...
Remington 870
Remington 870
The Remington Model 870 is a U.S.-made pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, Inc. It is widely used by the public for sport shooting, hunting, and self-defense. It is also commonly used by law enforcement and military organizations worldwide.-Development:The Remington 870 was...
shotgun. He approached Gale from the opposite side of the stage to avoid hitting the hostage and fired a single shot, striking Gale in the face with eight of the nine buckshot pellets. Gale was found to have had 35 rounds of ammunition remaining.
Nurse and audience member Mindy Reece, 28, went to the aid of Abbott, and she and another fan administered CPR
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation is an emergency procedure which is performed in an effort to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures are taken to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing in a person in cardiac arrest. It is indicated in those who are unresponsive...
until paramedics arrived, but were unable to revive him.
In May 2005, Officer Niggemeyer testified before the Franklin County
Franklin County, Ohio
Franklin County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. In 2010 the population was 1,163,414, making it the second largest county in Ohio and the 34th largest county in population in the United States. Franklin County is also the largest in the eight-county Columbus, Ohio...
grand jury, which is routine procedure in Franklin County after a police shooting. The grand jury did not indict
Indictment
An indictment , in the common-law legal system, is a formal accusation that a person has committed a crime. In jurisdictions that maintain the concept of felonies, the serious criminal offence is a felony; jurisdictions that lack the concept of felonies often use that of an indictable offence—an...
Niggemeyer, finding that his actions were justified. Niggemeyer received a commendation from the Ohio Peace Officer Training Commission for his outstanding police work in a time of crisis as well as the National Rifle Association
National Rifle Association
The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...
award as 2005 Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. The five other officers that were first on the scene received Ohio distinguished law enforcement medals for their efforts. In 2006 James Niggemeyer penned the foreword to a book written about the event A Vulgar Display of Power: Courage and Carnage at the Alrosa Villa.
Early theories of motive suggested that Gale might have turned to violence in response to the breakup of Pantera, or the public dispute between Abbott and Pantera singer Phil Anselmo, but these were later ruled out by investigators. Another theory was that Gale believed Abbott had stolen a song that he had written. In the book, A Vulgar Display Of Power, several of Gale's personal writings, given to the author by his mother, suggest that the gunman was not angry about Pantera's breakup or a belief that Pantera had "stolen songs"; instead, the documents suggest that Gale's paranoid schizophrenia caused delusions that the band could read his mind, and that they were "stealing" his thoughts and laughing at him.
Abbott's grave is located at the Moore Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Texas. He is buried alongside his mother.
He was buried with Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
's black and yellow-striped Charvel electric guitar (sometimes referred to as "Bumblebee"), which was pictured with Van Halen on the inner sleeve and back cover of the album Van Halen II
Van Halen II
-Personnel:*David Lee Roth - lead vocals*Eddie Van Halen - electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals*Michael Anthony - bass guitar, backing vocals*Alex Van Halen - drums-Production:*Producer: Ted Templeman...
. Dimebag had asked for one of these guitars in 2004, shortly before he was shot. Edward Van Halen originally agreed to make Darrell a copy of the guitar, but upon hearing of Abbott's death, offered to place the actual guitar in his casket. Dimebag was buried in a KISS Kasket
KISS Kasket
The Kiss Kasket is an item of merchandise licensed by the rock band Kiss. It is an actual coffin, decorated with a Kiss logo and pictures of the band members. In introducing the Kiss Kasket, Simmons quipped, "I love livin', but this makes the alternative look pretty damn good." The Kiss Kasket...
. Inspired by the rock 'n' roll group KISS, he requested in his will that he be buried in one of the famous coffins. Kiss
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
co-founder Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons
Gene Simmons is an Israeli-American entrepreneur, singer-songwriter, actor, and rock bassist. Known as "The Demon", he is the bassist/vocalist of Kiss, a hard rock band he co-founded in the early 1970s.-Early life:...
said, "There were a limited number made and I sent mine to the family of 'Dimebag' Darrell. He requested in his will to be buried in a Kiss Kasket, as he sort of learned his rock 'n' roll roots by listening to us for some strange reason."
Influences and guitar skills
Abbott once said in a Guitar World interview that if there were no Ace FrehleyAce Frehley
Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
, there would have been no "Dimebag" Darrell - he even had a tattoo of the "KISS" guitarist on his chest. Frehley signed the tattoo in pen ink upon meeting him, at Dimebag's request, and then the autograph was later painstakingly tattooed over, to never to be washed off. In an interview asking why he chose to become a guitar player Abbott said that when he was young his father asked him if he wanted a BMX
BMX
Bicycle motocross or BMX refers to the sport in which the main goal is extreme racing on bicycles in motocross style on tracks with inline start and expressive obstacles, and it is also the term that refers to the bicycle itself that is designed for dirt and motocross cycling.- History :BMX started...
bike or a guitar for his birthday and he chose the BMX but after listening to a Black Sabbath album for the first time he went to his father to try to trade the bike for the guitar.
In the late 1980s, around the time of Power Metal
Power Metal (album)
Power Metal is the fourth studio album by heavy metal band Pantera, released in 1988 through Metal Magic Records. It is the first album to feature Phil Anselmo on vocals, as part of a line-up which would last until the band's split in 2003.-Background:...
, Abbott often covered songs by guitarist Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
, such as "Crushing Day". He also incorporated elements of Satriani songs like "Echo" into his live solos as well. Abbott stated in various interviews, that his riffs were largely influenced by Tony Iommi
Tony Iommi
Anthony Frank "Tony" Iommi is an English guitarist and songwriter best known as the founding member of pioneering heavy metal band Black Sabbath, and its sole continual member through multiple personnel changes.Iommi is widely recognised as one of the most important and influential guitarists in...
of Black Sabbath. Iommi influenced Dimebag's tunings, which often went down to C# or lower. Pantera covered Black Sabbath songs "Planet Caravan
Planet Caravan
"Planet Caravan" is a psychedelic song by Black Sabbath. The song's lyrics and mellow music create a dreamy atmosphere.Geezer Butler has stated that the song's meaning is floating through the universe with your lover. The song appears on their 1970 breakthrough album, Paranoid...
", "Hole In the Sky" and "Electric Funeral
Electric Funeral
"Electric Funeral" is the fifth song from Black Sabbath's second album Paranoid, released in 1970. The song deals with nuclear war and its aftermath...
."
Abbott cited thrash giants Anthrax
Anthrax
Anthrax is an acute disease caused by the bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Most forms of the disease are lethal, and it affects both humans and other animals...
, Metallica
Metallica
Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...
, and despite a sometimes vicious feud, Megadeth as primary influences. He was also a fan of Slayer
Slayer
Slayer is an American thrash metal band formed in Huntington Park, California, in 1981 by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. Slayer rose to fame with their 1986 release, Reign in Blood, and is credited as one of the "Big Four" thrash metal acts, along with Metallica, Megadeth and...
and a good friend of Kerry King
Kerry King
Kerry King is an American lead and rhythm guitarist. He is best known as the lead guitarist and cofounder of American thrash metal band Slayer. He co-founded the band with Jeff Hanneman in 1981 and has been a member ever since...
. Dimebag mentioned in an interview with Guitar World
Guitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
that the clean chord passages in the intro to Cemetery Gates
Cemetery Gates
"Cemetery Gates" is a song by heavy metal band Pantera. The song is the fifth track from Cowboys from Hell, the band's fifth album and second with lead singer Phil Anselmo...
were influenced by the clean chordal passages found in much of Ty Tabor's
Ty Tabor
Ty Tabor is the lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-lead vocalist for the progressive metal band, King's X....
(King's X
King's X
King's X is an American hard rock band that combines progressive metal, funk and soul with vocal arrangements influenced by gospel, blues, and British Invasion rock groups. The band's lyrics are largely based on the members' struggles with religion and self-acceptance...
) playing. As with Billy Gibbons
Billy Gibbons
William Frederick "Billy" Gibbons is an American musician, actor and car customizer, best known as the guitarist of the Texas blues-rock band ZZ Top. He is also the lead singer and composer for many of the band's songs. Gibbons is known for playing his Gretsch Billy Bo guitar and his famous 1959...
, Abbott frequently made use of pentatonic scales and pinch harmonics in both his leads and rhythms. Both guitarists employ blues scales, start / stop dynamics and pedal tones, as in Abbott's southern style riff in "The Great Southern Trendkill" and the main riff to ZZ Top's "Tush". Randy Rhoads-style chord arpeggios can be heard in much of Abbott's playing as well, noted examples being "Floods", "Shedding Skin", "The Sleep" and "This Love". Three of Abbott's solos
Guitar solo
In popular music, a guitar solo is a melodic passage, section, or entire piece of music written for an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar. Guitar solos, which often contain varying degrees of improvisation, are used in many styles of popular music such as blues, jazz, rock and metal styles such...
were ranked in Guitar World magazine's top 100 of all-time: "Walk" (#57), "Cemetery Gates
Cemetery Gates
"Cemetery Gates" is a song by heavy metal band Pantera. The song is the fifth track from Cowboys from Hell, the band's fifth album and second with lead singer Phil Anselmo...
" (#35), and "Floods
Floods (song)
"Floods" is a song by heavy metal band Pantera from their 1996 album The Great Southern Trendkill. It is the longest song on the album, and the second longest song the band has ever recorded, after "Cemetery Gates".-Guitar solo:...
" (#15).
Abbott stated that "Eddie Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen
Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen is a Dutch-American guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter and producer, best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame...
was heavy rock and roll, but Randy was heavy metal". Eddie Van Halen, whom Abbott had befriended, placed his original black with yellow stripes guitar (commonly called "bumblebee") into the Kiss Kasket
KISS Kasket
The Kiss Kasket is an item of merchandise licensed by the rock band Kiss. It is an actual coffin, decorated with a Kiss logo and pictures of the band members. In introducing the Kiss Kasket, Simmons quipped, "I love livin', but this makes the alternative look pretty damn good." The Kiss Kasket...
Abbott was buried in. Abbott had mentioned to Van Halen that he liked that color combination the best of the latter's guitars (the guitar appears on the back sleeve of Van Halen's second album Van Halen II
Van Halen II
-Personnel:*David Lee Roth - lead vocals*Eddie Van Halen - electric and acoustic guitars, backing vocals*Michael Anthony - bass guitar, backing vocals*Alex Van Halen - drums-Production:*Producer: Ted Templeman...
) and Van Halen was going to paint one that way for him. Abbott credited Vito Rulez of Chauncy for convincing him to try Bill Lawrence pickups.
Pete Willis
Pete Willis
Pete Willis was one of the original guitarists for the British rock band Def Leppard, until he was replaced by Phil Collen in 1982...
of Def Leppard
Def Leppard
Def Leppard are an English rock band formed in 1977 in Sheffield as part of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. Since 1992, the band have consisted of Joe Elliott , Rick Savage , Rick Allen , Phil Collen , and Vivian Campbell...
was seen as another major influence for Darrell. In his Guitar World magazine tribute issue, Abbott was quoted as saying, "Man, that first Leppard album really jams, and their original guitarist, Pete Willis, was a great player. I was inspired by him because I was a small young dude and he was a small young dude, too—and he was out there kickin’ ass. He made me want to get out there and play. Def Leppard used the two-guitar thing much more back then than they do now."
According to an interview with Dino Cazares
Dino Cazares
Dino Cazares, born in El Centro, California, is a Mexican-American musician and the guitarist for Los Angeles-based industrial metal group Fear Factory. He also plays in the metal bands Divine Heresy and Asesino.-Biography:...
of Fear Factory
Fear Factory
Fear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
, Abbott told him that during the recording of Reinventing the Steel
Reinventing the Steel
-Credits:*Phil Anselmo – lead vocals*Dimebag Darrell – guitar, backing vocals*Rex Brown – bass, backing vocals*Vinnie Paul – drums*Produced, Engineered, & Mixed by Sterling Winfield, Dimebag Darrell, and Vinnie Paul....
he compared his guitar tone with Dino's. Incidentally, during the making of Fear Factory's Demanufacture
Demanufacture
Demanufacture is the second studio album by the Los Angeles industrial metal band Fear Factory. This is the band's first album with their classic line-up adding new bassist Christian Olde Wolbers. Many regard it as the band's best album and a heavy metal classic...
, Cazares compared his guitar tone against that of Vulgar Display of Power
Vulgar Display of Power
Vulgar Display of Power is the sixth studio album by heavy metal band Pantera. It was released through Atco Records, on February 25, 1992. It is the last album where Darrell Abbott is credited as "Diamond Darrell". One of the most influential groove metal albums of the 1990s, Vulgar Display of...
. Abbott co-designed a guitar with Dean just months before his death. Called the Razorback
Dean Razorback
The Dean Razorback is an electric guitar made by Dean Guitars. It is a variation of the Dean ML, and was designed by Dimebag Darrell shortly before his death. The Razorback was at first a USA only model, but has recently begun to be sold as an import model, making it cheaper to buy...
, it was a modified version of the ML. It is more pointed and has extra barbs on the wings. The design spawned variations, such as a 24-fret version, different paint jobs including a flamed maple top with natural finish, EMG pickups, and also helped with the design of the V-shaped version, the Razorback V
Dean Razorback V
The Razorback V is an electric guitar designed by Dean Guitars and Dimebag Darrell in 2004 shortly before his death. It is a more aggressive looking version of the Dean V, and similar to the Dean Razorback. Corey Beaulieu of Trivium is known for using this guitar It has the more spikey version of...
(lacking the neck-pointing front wing).
Dean issued a tribute guitar to honor Abbott's death, featuring the tribute logo on the neck, a razor inlay on the 12th fret, and hand-painted "rusty-metal"-style graphics. The pickups include a Dimebucker at the Bridge and a DiMarzio Super Distortion at the neck. The tremolo is a Floyd Rose double-locking, and the knobs are the Dimebag Traction knobs. They use all-black hardware, and almost all of them have 22 frets, a Floyd Rose tremolo, Seymour Duncan pickups (including the SH-13 Dimebucker) and set-neck construction.
Guitars
Dimebag was a major endorser of Dean GuitarsDean Guitars
Dean Guitars is an American manufacturer of guitars. It was founded in 1976 by Dean Zelinsky in Chicago, Illinois and is currently under the ownership of Armadillo Enterprises in Tampa, Florida.- History :...
since the 1980s and early days of Pantera. He is best known for playing a Dean ML guitar with Bill Lawrence
Bill Lawrence (guitar maker)
Bill Lawrence is a recording musician and an electric guitar pickup designer/maker and guitar designer/maker in the musical instrument industry, designing pickups and guitars for Fender, Gibson, Peavey and other companies from the 1950s to the present.MusicianThe Bill Lawrence story began...
L500XL pickups, which he would install in a reversed position to have the "hot" blade facing the neck. His signature guitar is called the "Dean From Hell". It was originally maroon. He sold it and then it circled back to him through Buddy Blaze who repainted. Buddy Blaze also builds guitars for sale now which is based in Hawaii. During a interview before his death, he claimed that as a kid, it was always his dream to play Dean Guitars
Dean Guitars
Dean Guitars is an American manufacturer of guitars. It was founded in 1976 by Dean Zelinsky in Chicago, Illinois and is currently under the ownership of Armadillo Enterprises in Tampa, Florida.- History :...
.
When Dean Guitars went out of business, Darrell signed a 10-year contract with Washburn
Washburn Guitars
Washburn Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer. It was established in 1883 in Chicago, Illinois. Washburn is a part of U.S. Music Corporation.- History :...
from 1994 to 2004. In late 2004, he switched back to Dean guitars, who were back in business. Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
manufactures a signature pickup co-designed by Dimebag, the SH-13 Dimebucker
Seymour Duncan
Seymour Duncan is a company that is best known for manufacturing of guitar pickups, and currently has a line of effects pedals. The company was founded in 1976 by guitarist and luthier Seymour W. Duncan and his then-wife Cathy Carter Duncan in Goleta, California, USA...
. He proudly endorsed the pickup manufacture, but continued to use Bill Lawrence pickups in most of his personal guitars. Several months before his death, Darrell ended his long relationship with Washburn, cutting short the Washburn custom shop production of 100 Southern Cross guitars. He became a Dean endorser once again, coinciding with founder Dean Zelinsky
Dean Zelinsky
Dean B. Zelinsky , also known as Dean Z, Dean Barrett Zelinsky or DBZ, is an American guitar luthier who founded Dean Guitars in 1976 and founded DBZ Guitars in 2008....
's return. Dean built him a brand new signature guitar—the Dime O' Flame, which he began using live.
As a tribute to Abbott, in 2005 Dean Guitars released the new Dime Tribute line of ML guitars. These guitars come in various models, ranging from lower priced models to higher end models with SH-13 Dimebuckers, a Floyd Rose
Floyd Rose
The Floyd Rose Locking Tremolo, or simply Floyd Rose, is a type of locking vibrato arm for a guitar. The first of its kind, Floyd D. Rose invented the locking vibrato in 1977, and it is now manufactured by a company of the same name...
bridge, and set-neck construction. In his last few weeks with Dean, Dime helped design a guitar that he called the Razorback. After Darrell's death, Dean continued with the Razorback project and dedicated the guitars to his memory. During the height of Dimebag's fame, he also worked together with MXR and Dunlop to produce the MXR Dime Distortion and the Dimebag "Crybaby from Hell" Wah respectively.
Amplifiers and cabinets
Throughout his career, Darrell has used a range of different amplifiers. For the majority of his time in Pantera and Damageplan, he used Randall amplifiers and cabinets, with occasional effects.A few weeks before his death, Darrell left Randall Amplifiers. Dimebag had always sworn by his solid-state Randalls, but in late 2004 he switched to Krank Amplifiers
Krank Amplification
Krank Amplification is an American company based in Arizona that designs and manufactures guitar amplifiers. Krank manufactures tube amplifiers and recently a hybrid amplifier.- Amplifiers :...
, which were purely tube driven. He planned to redefine his very own sound by developing the Krankenstein. He used the MXR Zakk Wylde Overdrive
MXR
MXR, also known as MXR Innovations, was a manufacturer of guitar effects units, co-founded in 1973 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood . MXR was based in the United States in Rochester, New York. MXR Innovations, Inc. was incorporated in 1974...
with the Krank amps.
- Randall RG100es/RG100HT heads and cabinets
Glam-era (1981–1988) Cowboys From Hell (1990), The Great Southern Trendkill (1996)
- Randall Century-200 heads and cabinets
Vulgar Display Of Power (1992), Far Beyond Driven (1994)
- Randall Warhead 1st Generation heads and cabinets
Reinventing The Steel (2000), New Found Power (2004)
- Modified Krank Revolution (prototype to the krankenstein) heads and cabinets
(late 2004)
- Dime used Celestion speakers and occasionally vintage Jaguar Speakers in his cabs, while using Krank, he used the Eminence Speakers Texas Heat's in his cabs.
- Dime Constructed his signature amp the Warhead With Randall in 1999. He used a prototype to record Reinventing The Steel (2000) and the 1st Gen for New Found Power (2004). He carried on using the Warhead until Switching to krank in mid 2004 .
Effects
Dimebag used a range of different effects during his career. He used both rack-mounted and pedal effects including:- Furman PQ4 Equalizer (1990–1995)
- Furman PQ3 Equalizer (1996–2004)
- MXRMXRMXR, also known as MXR Innovations, was a manufacturer of guitar effects units, co-founded in 1973 by Keith Barr and Terry Sherwood . MXR was based in the United States in Rochester, New York. MXR Innovations, Inc. was incorporated in 1974...
6-band Graphic Equalizer (the blue one) - MXR Flanger/Doubler (Blue-faced rack unit)
- MXR Zakk Wylde Overdrive
- DigiTech WhammyDigitech Whammy-Overview:The WH-1 Whammy pedal, the original whammy, first engineered and manufactured in 1989 by IVL Technologies and discontinued in 1993, remains the most sought-after.-Controls:...
(x2) - DunlopDunlop ManufacturingDunlop Manufacturing, Inc., known colloquially as Jim Dunlop, is a manufacturer of musical accessories based in Benicia, California. Originally founded in 1965 by Jim Dunlop, Sr., the company has grown from a small home operation to being a large manufacturer of music gear for over 40 years.- Way...
Cry Baby From Hell Dimebag Signature Wah DB01 - DunlopDunlop ManufacturingDunlop Manufacturing, Inc., known colloquially as Jim Dunlop, is a manufacturer of musical accessories based in Benicia, California. Originally founded in 1965 by Jim Dunlop, Sr., the company has grown from a small home operation to being a large manufacturer of music gear for over 40 years.- Way...
Rackmount wah - Dunlop Octave Fuzz & Wah (prototype)
- Electro Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/filter matrix
- Electro Harmonix Soul Preacher compressor/sustainer
- LexiconLexicon (company)Lexicon is an American audio equipment manufacturing company founded in 1971 and owned by Harman International Industries. Lexicon's roots began in 1969 with the founding of American Data Sciences by MIT professor Dr...
Effect Modules - Rocktron Guitar Silencer
- WhirlwindWhirlwind USAWhirlwind USA is a manufacturer of audio interfacing equipment and custom audio interfacing, including digital products that employ the EtherSound standard. In addition, Whirlwind manufactures guitar effects pedals. Whirlwind was founded in 1975 by Michael Laiacona , and its headquarters are...
A/B Selector - RolandRolandRoland was a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who became one of the principal figures in the literary cycle known as the Matter of France. Historically, Roland was military governor of the Breton March, with responsibility for defending the frontier of Francia against the Bretons...
AP2 Phase ii Pedal - KorgKorgis a Japanese multinational corporation that manufactures electronic musical instruments, audio processors and guitar pedals, recording equipment, and electronic tuners...
DTR-1 Rack Tuner
Magazine appearances
Abbott frequently appeared in guitar magazines, both in advertisements for equipment he endorsed and in readers' polls, where he was often included in the top ten metal guitarist spots. He wrote a long-running Guitar World magazine column, which has been compiled in the book Riffer Madness (ISBN 0-7692-9101-5). He has been voted into the Guitar World Hall of Fame.Total Guitar
Total Guitar
Total Guitar is a monthly magazine based in the United Kingdom. The magazine is the best selling guitar magazine in Europe.The magazine is owned by Future Publishing, who publish many other magazines ranging from drums and video games to mountain bikes and knitting magazines.Total Guitar regularly...
frequently featured him and wrote about him in the months leading up to his death. One year after his death, they published a tribute issue. The January 2008 issue of Metal Hammer was also dedicated to him. In the March 2008 issue of Guitar World, Abbott was featured on the cover story "Dimebag, The Untold Story," and interviews with his then-guitar techs Grady Champion, Rita Haney and older brother Vinnie Paul Abbott. The January 2010 Guitar World commemorative issue features interviews with Abbott's father and Pantera's manager, Walter O'Brien. The January 2010 issue of Revolver
Revolver (magazine)
Revolver is a bi-monthly rock and heavy metal magazine published by Future US. Before covering heavy metal, rock & hard rock solely, it was a more mainstream oriented magazine. The magazine is structured in a manner similar to publications such as Spin while covering many avenues within the heavy...
magazine contains interviews with the remaining band members of Pantera.
Legacy
Abbott frequently appeared in guitar magazines and in readers' polls, and wrote a long-running Guitar WorldGuitar World
Guitar World is a monthly music magazine devoted to guitarists. It contains original interviews, album and gear reviews and guitar and bass tablature of approximately five songs each month. The magazine is published 13 times per year...
magazine column, which was compiled into the book Riffer Madness. He was praised for his tone and was included in "The 50 Greatest Tones of All Time" by Guitar Player
Guitar Player
Guitar Player is a popular magazine for guitarists founded in 1967. It contains articles, interviews, reviews and lessons of an eclectic collection of artists, genres and products. It has been in print since the late 1960s and during the 1980s, under editor Tom Wheeler, the publication was...
magazine. Remembered for his amiable nature and rapport with fans, Abbott was described by Allmusic as "one of the most influential stylists in modern metal."
Tributes
- Ride For Dime Inc, a nationally registered 501 c 3 charity. Formed in 2005, they are currently running 6 nationwide chapters. They host annual motorcycle runs & concerts, with all proceeds going to Little Kids Rock, and towards funding the Ride For Dime Scholarship Fund. Ride For Dime is the only charity recognized and supported by the Abbott Estate. Visit them at www.ridefordime.org
- Thrash metalThrash metalThrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized usually by its fast tempo and aggression. Songs of the genre typically use fast percussive and low-register guitar riffs, overlaid with shredding-style lead work...
band EvileEvileEvile is a thrash metal band from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Their debut album, Enter the Grave, was produced by Flemming Rasmussen at Sweet Silence Studios in Copenhagen, Denmark and was released worldwide in 2007 by Earache Records to critical acclaim by fans and critics...
did a cover of "Cemetery Gates" as tribute to Dimebag Darrell. - Funk metalFunk metalFunk metal is a subgenre of funk rock that fuses elements of heavy metal and funk. Allmusic has claimed that "funk metal evolved in the mid-'80s when alternative bands like the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Infectious Grooves, Mordred and Fishbone began playing the hybrid with a stronger...
band 24-7 Spyz24-7 Spyz24-7 Spyz are a band from the South Bronx, New York, formed in 1986, originally consisting of Jimi Hazel , Rick Skatore , Kindu Phibes , and P. Fluid . The band is best known for mixing soul, funk, reggae, and R&B with heavy metal and hardcore punk...
paid tribute to Darrell on their album Face the DayFace the DayFace the Day is the sixth and most recent album from rap, metal, and funk pioneers 24-7 Spyz. It is the first Spyz album in more than a decade, recorded two years after their reformation in 2003...
with an instrumental song called "Blues For Dimebag". - Southern Metal band The Showdown often does a live medley that includes "Cowboys From Hell" and "Walk" at the end of their shows.
- CreedCreed (band)Creed is an American rock band formed in 1995 in Tallahassee, Florida. Becoming popular in the late 1990s and early 2000s, the band has released three consecutive multi-platinum albums, one of which has been certified diamond, and has sold over 28 million records in the United States, with an...
and Alter BridgeAlter BridgeAlter Bridge is an American rock band that was formed in 2004 in Orlando, Florida by lead guitarist Mark Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall, and drummer Scott Phillips, who are all also members of Creed. Lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist Myles Kennedy, formerly of The Mayfield Four and the frontman...
guitarist Mark TremontiMark TremontiMark Thomas Tremonti is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the lead guitarist of the American rock bands Creed and Alter Bridge. He is a founding member of both bands...
has a picture under the bridge of one of his PRS guitarsPRS GuitarsPRS Guitars is an American guitar manufacturer headquartered in Stevensville, Maryland. PRS Guitars was founded by guitarist and luthier Paul Reed Smith in 1985. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of high-end electric guitars.-Materials:...
showing a tribute to "Dimebag" Darrell. - Country rock band Cross Canadian Ragweed debuted the song "Dimebag" while on tour to promote the album Garage. The band performed the song live for the first time at the Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio in early 2005.
- Michael Angelo BatioMichael Angelo BatioMichael Angelo Batio also known as Mike Batio or MAB, is a guitarist and columnist from Chicago, Illinois. His work has encompassed many genres, notably metal and its subgenres. Batio was voted the "No. 1 Shredder of All Time" by Guitar One Magazine in 2003...
, another Dean guitar endorser, arranged three of Pantera's songs into a medley for a track called "Tribute to Dimebag" in his album, Hands Without Shadows 2 - Voices. - A live version of ShinedownShinedownShinedown is an American rock band from Jacksonville, Florida, formed in 2001 and founded by members Brent Smith , Brad Stewart , Jasin Todd , and Barry Kerch . A few line-up changes followed, and the band's current line-up consists of Smith and Kerch, the band's only two remaining original...
's cover of "Simple Man" is dedicated to Dimebag Darrell. - TriviumTrivium (band)Trivium is an American heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has released five studio albums, eleven singles, and twelve music videos...
's album, The CrusadeThe Crusade (album)-Reception:* Allmusic [ link]* IGN * Kerrang! * Metal Hammer * Rolling Stone * Sputnikmusic * Total Guitar -Personnel:Trivium*Matt Heafy – lead vocals, lead and rhythm guitars*Corey Beaulieu – lead and rhythm guitars...
, says at the bottom of the final page, "Rest in peace Dimebag Darrell Abbott (1966-2004). TriviumTrivium (band)Trivium is an American heavy metal band from Orlando, Florida, formed in 1999. Signed to Roadrunner Records, the band has released five studio albums, eleven singles, and twelve music videos...
also covered a small section of the Pantera song "Domination" during the Roadrunner UnitedRoadrunner UnitedRoadrunner United was a project organized by the heavy metal record label Roadrunner Records to celebrate its 25th anniversary. It culminated in an album released worldwide on October 11, 2005, entitled The All-Star Sessions...
's Concert DVD. - Disturbed in their 2005 release Ten Thousand FistsTen Thousand FistsTen Thousand Fists is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. It was released on September 20, 2005 and became Disturbed's second consecutive #1 debut on the Billboard 200 in the United States, shipping around 239,000 copies in its opening week. It has been certified Platinum...
stated: "We would like to dedicate this record to the memory of our late fallen brother, Dimebag Darrell, one of the greatest guitar players to ever walk the face of this Earth. During their 2011 performance at Download Festival (UK), the band also dedicated a performance of Ten Thousand FistsTen Thousand FistsTen Thousand Fists is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Disturbed. It was released on September 20, 2005 and became Disturbed's second consecutive #1 debut on the Billboard 200 in the United States, shipping around 239,000 copies in its opening week. It has been certified Platinum...
to Dimebag." The band also performed a cover of "Walk" during the 2011 tour of Mayhem FestivalMayhem Festival 2011Mayhem Festival 2011 was the fourth annual Mayhem Festival created by Kevin Lyman. The official lineup was announced on January 31, 2011. It was the first year that the festival utilized a rotating main stage slot, and the first year that the tour had more than one act returning from previous...
. - French metal band Watcha dedicated a song on the album "Phenix" called "Dimebag". The lyrics contain many titles of Pantera albums.
- Guitarist BucketheadBucketheadBrian Carroll , better known by his stage name Buckethead, is a guitarist and multi instrumentalist who has worked within several genres of music. He has released 34 studio albums, four special releases and one EP. He has performed on over 50 more albums by other artists...
wrote "Dime", a song paying tribute to Abbott, which was available for free download shortly after Abbott's death. The song later made it onto Buckethead's album.KaleidoscalpKaleidoscalpKaleidoscalp is the fifteenth studio album by avant-garde guitarist Buckethead. Some of the songs on the album use instruments and effects that have been circuit bent to create sounds quite unlike anything previously heard on Buckethead albums....
, entitled "The Android of Notre Dame". - He Came to Rock is a DVD/book tribute to Abbott released in November 2008. Darrell's brother Vinnie Paul and father Jerry toured to promote the book's release.
- The booklet in C.O.C.'s In the Arms of GodIn the Arms of GodIn the Arms of God is the seventh studio album by Corrosion of Conformity and was released April 5, 2005. So far, it is the only Corrosion of Conformity album to not feature drummer Reed Mullin...
album says "R.I.P. Dime" at the bottom of the last page. - The song "Side of a Bullet" by NickelbackNickelbackNickelback is a Canadian rock band from Hanna, Alberta. Since 1995 the band has included guitarist and lead vocalist Chad Kroeger, guitarist and back-up vocalist Ryan Peake and bassist Mike Kroeger.. The band's current drummer and percussionist is Daniel Adair who has been with the band since 2005....
is a tribute to Dimebag; it takes place in a world where the killer is still alive and has lyrics such as, "He hit the stage so full of rage and let the whole world know it/6 feet away they heard him say/Oh God, don't let him pull it." An unreleased solo recorded by Dimebag, intended for Damageplan, was mixed into the song. - Metal band Machine HeadMachine Head (band)Machine Head is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California. Formed on October 12, 1991, the group was founded by Robb Flynn and Adam Duce. There have been 4 member changes since their inception. The current lineup of the band comprises Flynn , Duce , ex-Vio-Lence guitarist Phil Demmel ,...
dedicated a song to Dimebag on their album The BlackeningThe BlackeningThe Blackening is the sixth album by American heavy metal band Machine Head. Released on March 27, 2007 in the U.S., The Blackening sold 16,000 units in its first week, and became Machine Head's second highest charting release at number 54 on the Billboard 200, and charted in the Top 20 throughout...
, called Aesthetics of HateAesthetics of Hate"Aesthetics of Hate" is a song by heavy metal band Machine Head from their sixth studio album The Blackening. Written by Machine Head vocalist and guitarist Robert Flynn, the song is a retaliation to an article written by William Grim. Grim wrote that late guitarist Dimebag Darrell was "an...
. The song's lyrics are meant as a vicious retaliation against the Christian-conservative website The Iconoclast, which hosted an article of the same name bashing Darrell after his death. Also, on their tour with this album, they honored Dimebag during a concert by taking time to tell Dime's story. "Aesthetics of Hate" remains a mainstay on tour and is always dedicated to the memory of Darrell. Robb FlynnRobert FlynnRobb Flynn is best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist for the heavy metal band Machine Head...
was a friend of Darrell's, who also took the time to remark both on how talented and how generous he was - reportedly, Robb owns a custom-made Washburn Dimebag guitar which was given to him as a replacement after Dimebag broke his touring guitar, but can't use it on stage due to contract disagreements. He used this guitar to record "Aesthetics of Hate". Machine Head have also recorded a cover of the Pantera song "Fucking Hostile" for the Metal Hammer magazine tribute CD. - Static-XStatic-XStatic-X is an American industrial metal band from Los Angeles, California. They were formed in 1994. They are signed to Warner Bros. Records and have released six albums, their most recent being Cult of Static, which was released on March 17, 2009....
's album Start A WarStart a WarStart a War is the fourth Static-X album; it was released in June 2005. A special version was shipped with an additional DVD titled X-Rated.-Album information:...
was dedicated to Dimebag Darrell as it says in the inner booklet of the CD. - In Avenged SevenfoldAvenged SevenfoldAvenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
's City of EvilCity of EvilCity of Evil is the third studio album and first major label release by American metal band Avenged Sevenfold. The album was released on June 7, 2005 under the Warner Bros. Records label. Co-produced by Andrew Murdock, City of Evil contains a more hard rock and classic heavy metal sound than...
album, the song "Betrayed" is labeled as "In memory of Darrell Lance Abbott-"Dimebag Darrell". Avenged SevenfoldAvenged SevenfoldAvenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
also did a cover of the Pantera song "Walk", and played live Mouth For War. During their 2011 performance at Download Festival (UK), Avenged SevenfoldAvenged SevenfoldAvenged Sevenfold is an American heavy metal band from Huntington Beach, California. Formed in 1999, the group consists of vocalist M. Shadows, lead guitarist Synyster Gates, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, bassist Johnny Christ....
dedicated a live performance of "Betrayed" to both Dimebag and their own fallen band mate The RevThe RevJames Owen Sullivan , more commonly known by his stage name The Reverend Tholomew Plague, often shortened to The Rev, was an American musician, best known as the drummer for the American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold...
also playing NightmareNightmare (song)Nightmare is a song by American metal band Avenged Sevenfold released as the lead single for their fifth studio album, Nightmare. It is also their first single released without former drummer "The Rev", who died on December 28, 2009... - The 2006 album Garage, by Cross Canadian RagweedCross Canadian RagweedCross Canadian Ragweed was an American Red Dirt/Texas Country/Country rock band. The name of the band came from the combination of three band members' names, Grady Cross , Cody Canada , and Randy Ragsdale . Jeremy Plato's name was not involved in the band naming...
, features the song "Dimebag", which is about "Dimebag" Darrell and makes references to his songs and death. - Crowbar dedicated their 2005 album Lifesblood for the Downtrodden to Dimebag Darrell.
- Argentinian band CarajoCarajoCarajo is a rock band from Buenos Aires, Argentina. It was formed in 2001 with Marcelo "Corvata" Corvalan on bass and vocals, Andres "Andy" Vilanova on drums and Hernan "Tery" Langer on guitar and backing vocals...
on live performances plays a medley with the songs Domination, Walk, Cowboys From Hell, Five Minutes Alone and Mouth For War. - In 2006, Malibu punk/metal band 2Cents released Lost at Sea (Atlantic Records), which features a tribute song to Abbott titled "A Song for Darrell Abbott".
- Finnish metal band Kiuas´ song "Bleeding Strings" from their 2006 album Reformation is dedicated to Dimebag Darrell.
- Phil AnselmoPhil AnselmoPhilip Hansen "Phil" Anselmo is an American musician who is best known as the lead singer for the heavy metal band Pantera. He is currently the frontman for the Louisiana-based metal act Down. He is also the owner of Housecore Records....
's band DownDown (band)Down is an American heavy metal supergroup that formed in 1991 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The band's current lineup consists of vocalist Phil Anselmo, guitarist Pepper Keenan, guitarist Kirk Windstein, bassist Pat Bruders and drummer Jimmy Bower. Since their formation, Down has gone on hiatus twice...
now dedicates the song "Lifer" from NOLANOLA (album)- Band members :* Phil Anselmo - vocals, guitar on "Pray for the Locust", mandolin on "Jail"* Pepper Keenan - guitar* Kirk Windstein - guitar, bass* Jimmy Bower - drums- Guest musicians :...
to Dimebag Darrell when performed live. - Black Label SocietyBlack Label SocietyBlack Label Society is a heavy metal band formed by Zakk Wylde, with nine studio albums, one live album, two compilation albums, one EP, and three video albums released since formation of the band.-Formation and Sonic Brew :...
now dedicates the song "In This River" to Dimebag. - Brides Of DestructionBrides of DestructionBrides of Destruction were an American hard rock supergroup from Los Angeles, California, formed in 2002. The band's last lineup consisted of singer London LeGrand , Tracii Guns and Scot Coogan...
paid tribute to Dimebag Darrell on their 2005 release, Runaway Brides, with the track "Dimes in Heaven". - The lyrics of metal band Abnormality's 20072007 in musicThis is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 2007.-January:*January 1 - George Shearing is knighted for services to music in the Queen's New Year Honours List. Evelyn Glennie becomes a Dame...
song "Visions" are about Dimebag Darrel's death. - The song "Leave it Alone" (with Jason BittnerJason BittnerJason Bittner is the drummer for the American metal band Shadows Fall. He has won numerous awards including Modern Drummer Readers poll for #1 Up and Coming Drummer of 2004, and in 2005, #1 Best Recorded Performance for the Shadows Fall album The War Within, #1 Metal drummer #2 Clinician DRUM!...
, David EllefsonDavid EllefsonDavid Warren "Dave" Ellefson is a bassist and founding member of the American thrash metal band Megadeth. He also goes by "Junior." He currently resides in Scottsdale, Arizona...
, Tristan "1690" Grigsby, Nick Bowcott and Brian Cashmore) is a tribute to Dimebag Darrell. - The progressive death metal band Between the Buried and MeBetween the Buried and MeBetween the Buried and Me is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina. They have released a total of five studio albums, as well as a cover album, an EP and a live DVD/CD...
did a cover of "Cemetery Gates" on their album The Anatomy of. - While playing in Hammersmith in 2004, Melodic Death Metal band In FlamesIn FlamesIn Flames is a Swedish heavy metal band from Gothenburg, formed in 1990. Since the band's inception in 1993, they have released ten studio albums and one live DVD...
played a cover of "Fucking Hostile" and dedicated it to the memory of Dimebag Darrell. - During Gigantour 2005, Dream TheaterDream TheaterDream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
did a cover of Pantera's "Cemetery Gates" as a tribute to "Dimebag" Darrel Lance Abbott. As an added bonus, they had Burton C. Bell of Fear FactoryFear FactoryFear Factory is an American industrial metal band. Formed in 1989, they have released seven full-length albums and a number of singles and remixes. Over the course of their career they have evolved from a succession of styles, as well as steadily pioneered a combination of the styles death metal,...
, and Russell Allen of Symphony XSymphony XSymphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey.Founded in 1994 by guitarist Michael Romeo, their albums The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite have given the band considerable attention within the progressive metal community...
do guest vocals and Dave Mustaine of MegadethMegadethMegadeth is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California which was formed in 1983 by guitarist/vocalist Dave Mustaine, bassist Dave Ellefson and guitarist Greg Handevidt, following Mustaine's expulsion from Metallica. The band has since released 13 studio albums, three live albums, two...
, do the main solo for the song. - Brazilian death metalDeath metalDeath metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs heavily distorted guitars, tremolo picking, deep growling vocals, blast beat drumming, minor keys or atonality, and complex song structures with multiple tempo changes....
band KrisiunKrisiunKrisiun is a Brazilian death metal band, founded by Alex Camargo , Moyses Kolesne , and Max Kolesne . Since its formation, in 1990, the group recorded two demos, Evil Age in 1991, and Curse of the Evil One in 1992, and self-released an extended play titled Unmerciful Order in 1993...
dedicated their 2006 album AssassiNationAssassiNationAssassiNation is the sixth album by Krisiun, released in 2006 on Century Media. It is dedicated In Memory of Doc and Dimebag.-Track listing:# "Bloodcraft" – 5:49# "Natural Genocide" – 4:29# "Vicious Wrath" – 3:54# "Refusal" – 4:49# "H.O.G...
to the memory of Dimebag and late VaderVader (band)Vader is a Polish death metal band from Olsztyn, formed in 1983. According to Piotr Wiwczarek, the band's founding singer and guitar player, the band's name was inspired by Darth Vader from the Star Wars film series. Lyrical themes include stories by H. P. Lovecraft, WW2, horror and anti-christian...
drummer DocKrzysztof RaczkowskiKrzysztof Raczkowski , also known as Docent or Doc, was a Polish drummer, member of death metal bands Vader and Dies Irae...
. - The 2009 album 11:11 by Rodrigo y GabrielaRodrigo y GabrielaRodrigo y Gabriela , also known as "El Rodri y La Gabi", are a Mexican musical duo who specialize in playing fast, rhythmic acoustic guitars...
features a tribute track named "Atman" inspired by Dimebag. - Ace FrehleyAce FrehleyPaul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Kiss. He took on the persona of the "Spaceman" or "Space Ace" when the band adopted costumes and theatrics...
's 20092009 in musicThe following is a list of notable events and releases in 2009 in music. Susan Boyle's album I Dreamed a Dream became the biggest selling album in the world for 2009, selling 8.3 million copies in five weeks; more than any other artist's in the whole year...
solo album Anomaly is dedicated to Dimebag. - RipperRipperRipper may refer to:* Jack the Ripper, a pseudonym given to an unidentified serial killer active in the largely impoverished Whitechapel area and adjacent districts of London in the latter half of 1888...
's 2009 album 'The Dead Have Rizen' is dedicated to Dimebag. - Slayer guitarist Kerry KingKerry KingKerry King is an American lead and rhythm guitarist. He is best known as the lead guitarist and cofounder of American thrash metal band Slayer. He co-founded the band with Jeff Hanneman in 1981 and has been a member ever since...
drinks a shot at the end of live performances as a tribute to Darrell and usually leaves one shot on stage "for Dime". - Type O NegativeType O NegativeType O Negative was a gothic metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. The band also incorporated elements of doom metal and thrash metal. Their dramatic lyrical emphasis on themes of romance, depression, and death resulted in the nickname "The Drab Four"...
played "Halloween in Heaven" off of the Dead Again album as a tribute to Dimebag when playing live. - Brian WelchBrian WelchBrian Phillip Welch , better known as Head, is an American musician best known as the former guitarist and co-founder of the nu metal band Korn...
(former guitarist of the band KornKornKorn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...
) made an only-guitar song dedicated to Dimebag called "Letter to Dimebag". - The booklet in the EvanescenceEvanescenceEvanescence is an American rock band founded in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1995 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. After recording private albums, the band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 17 million copies worldwide...
album The Open DoorThe Open DoorThe Open Door is the second studio album by the American rock band Evanescence. It was first released in Poland on September 25, 2006, through Wind-up Records and subsequently in more than 20 other countries worldwide...
, in Terry BalsamoTerry BalsamoTerry Balsamo , is an American guitarist. He is the former guitarist of the alternative metal band Cold and the current guitarist of Evanescence.-Early projects and Cold:...
's section says "..R.I.P dimebag." - Detroit groove-metal band Myth Not Man ends every one of their shows with a cover of the Pantera song "Becoming" in tribute to Dimebag Darrell's influence on their guitar player Joey Davis' style and the band's music.
- Overdriven Guitarist Caleb Fyvie has two dimes dated 1966 and 2004 on the headstock of his Signature Dean ML.
- Guitar Hero IIGuitar Hero IIGuitar Hero II is a music video game developed by Harmonix Music Systems and published by RedOctane. It is the second installment in the Guitar Hero series and is the sequel to Guitar Hero...
for Xbox 360Xbox 360The Xbox 360 is the second video game console produced by Microsoft and the successor to the Xbox. The Xbox 360 competes with Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii as part of the seventh generation of video game consoles...
has an achievement named "Dimebag Darrell Award", when the player gets a 100-note streak on any song. - British death metal band Entropy covered "Walk" at all their live shows as a tribute to Dime.
- Dimebag is frequently tributed by amateur bands all over the world through covers of Pantera and Damageplan songs.
- AnthraxAnthrax (band)Anthrax is an American heavy metal band from New York City, formed in 1981. Founded by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker, the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and an EP featuring Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the 1980s thrash metal scene...
bassist Frank BelloFrank BelloFrank Bello is an American musician who plays bass guitar for the thrash metal band Anthrax. Originally he was a roadie and guitar technician for the band, but later he replaced Dan Lilker on the Spreading the Disease album. After leaving Anthrax in early 2004 Bello joined Helmet - another New...
wrote "R.I.P. Dimebag" on his guitar after Dimebag's death. - Beer in Chile (Darrell), dedicated to Dimebag.
- The save icon in the game Brutal Legend is a dime on December 4th, in memorial to Dimebag's death.
- A tribute album (known as Getcha Pull: A Tribute to Dimebag DarrellGetcha Pull: A Tribute to Dimebag DarrellGetcha Pull: A Tribute To Dimebag Darrell is a Metal Hammer covermount CD released in their January 2010 issue, featuring 13 Pantera songs covered by various bands as a tribute to Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell.-Track listing:#"Suicide Note Pt...
) by UK magazine Metal Hammer honored Dimebag. It came along with the magazine, which went on sale December 16, 2009. The track
listing is as follows:
Discography and filmography
Abbott performed on Anthrax albums, including Stomp 442 (1995); Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998); the Inside OutInside Out (Anthrax album)
Inside Out is an EP released by heavy metal band Anthrax in 1999 by Ignition Records.-Track listing:#"Inside Out" – 5:35#"Snap / I'd Rather Be Sleeping Inside Out is an EP released by heavy metal band Anthrax in 1999 by Ignition Records.-Track listing:#"Inside Out" (John Bush, Scott Ian, Charlie...
EP (1998) and We've Come for You All (2003). With Damageplan, Abbott played on the Devastation Sampler (2003) and on the album New Found Power
New Found Power
- Personnel :Damageplan* Patrick Lachman − vocals* Dimebag Darrell − guitars, bass * Vinnie Paul − drumsGuest musicians* Corey Taylor - 2nd verse, breakdown, and last chorus on "Fuck You"...
(2004). With Pantera
Pantera
Pantera was an American heavy metal band from Arlington, Texas. Formed by the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell in 1981, bassist Rex Brown would join in late 1981 with vocalist Terry Glaze. Looking for a new and heavier sound, Pantera had Terry replaced in 1987 with Phil Anselmo as...
, Abbott recorded a number of albums, EPs, singles, and videos, including Power Metal
Power Metal (album)
Power Metal is the fourth studio album by heavy metal band Pantera, released in 1988 through Metal Magic Records. It is the first album to feature Phil Anselmo on vocals, as part of a line-up which would last until the band's split in 2003.-Background:...
(1988); Cowboys from Hell (1990); Vulgar Display of Power (1992); and Hostile Moments
Hostile Moments
Hostile Moments is a 12" vinyl only EP by the heavy metal band Pantera.-Album information:Released in 1994, it contains 4 tracks. Track one is from the forthcoming album Far Beyond Driven, track 2 is from Vulgar Display of Power, and tracks 3 and 4 are remixes.The gatefold vinyl contains a large...
(1994). He also recorded albums under his own name, including Country Western Transvestite Whore and Supercop Soundtrack (1996) and he recorded a country music album entitled Rebel Meets Rebel (2004).
External links
- Official Damageplan website
- Official Pantera website
- Official Rebel Meets Rebel Site
- Obituary by Sebastian Bach
- Obituary in the Columbus Dispatch