I'm Broken
Encyclopedia
"I'm Broken" is a song by the heavy metal group Pantera
from the 1994 album Far Beyond Driven
. It was the first single issued from the album. The song features one of guitarist Dimebag Darrell
's most famous riffs.
Kerry King
said in a Japanese TV show Rock Fujiyama
(featuring guitarist Marty Friedman) that it was his favorite guitar riff.
. Two versions of the single were released. Both contained the b-side "Slaughtered", but each version included a differing pair of live tracks. All live tracks were recorded in Moscow, USSR at the Monsters of Rock
concert in 1991. It reached #19 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's highest charting single worldwide. It also reached #49 on the Australian Charts
and #23 on the Swedish Charts
. The song was also nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 1995 Grammy Awards. Allmusic reviewer Eduardo Rivadavia called "I'm Broken" a "wisely chosen first single".
. During live performances of the song, the band would have Dimebag Darrell
performing backup vocals and would end the song with the outro of "By Demons Be Driven".
CD Single 2 (I'm Broken/Slaughtered Part 2)
for Metal Hammer
's Dimebag Darrell
tribute album, Getcha' Pull: A tribute to Dimebag Darrell.
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...
from the 1994 album Far Beyond Driven
Far Beyond Driven
Far Beyond Driven is the seventh album by American groove metal band Pantera. It was released on March 22, 1994 through East West Records. Upon its release, it debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200...
. It was the first single issued from the album. The song features one of guitarist Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag Darrell
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...
's most famous riffs.
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...
said in a Japanese TV show Rock Fujiyama
Rock Fujiyama
is a Japanese music variety television show that was broadcast by TV Tokyo from April 3, 2006, to March 26, 2007. It is the substantial remake of "Mr. Heavy Metal" that was broadcast in 2005. Despite the title, the key genre in the program is heavy metal, just like "Mr...
(featuring guitarist Marty Friedman) that it was his favorite guitar riff.
Origin
Dimebag Darrell commented about the riff:"I'm Broken" was a sound check riff – one of them ones where I'd walk in with a hangover from ripping it up night after night with everyone in every town. That's where a lot of the best riffs I ever wrote came from. I just played the first riff I thought of, Vinnie started kickin' in on it, Rex joined in – we didn't write the entire song on the spot, but we kept toying with it and finally worked on it once we got into the studio.
Release and reception
"I'm Broken" was released as the band's first single for Far Beyond DrivenFar Beyond Driven
Far Beyond Driven is the seventh album by American groove metal band Pantera. It was released on March 22, 1994 through East West Records. Upon its release, it debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200...
. Two versions of the single were released. Both contained the b-side "Slaughtered", but each version included a differing pair of live tracks. All live tracks were recorded in Moscow, USSR at the Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock
Monsters of Rock was an annual music festival held in England, then moved in other locations like The Netherlands, France, Italy, Germany, Canada, Brazil, Argentina, Chile.The Last show was in 2008....
concert in 1991. It reached #19 on the UK Singles Chart, making it the band's highest charting single worldwide. It also reached #49 on the Australian Charts
ARIA Charts
The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June...
and #23 on the Swedish Charts
Sverigetopplistan
Sverigetopplistan, earlier known as Topplistan and Hitlistan and other names, is since October 2007 the Swedish national record chart, based on sales data from Swedish Recording Industry Association ....
. The song was also nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 1995 Grammy Awards. Allmusic reviewer Eduardo Rivadavia called "I'm Broken" a "wisely chosen first single".
Live performance
A live version of the song can be found on the band's live album Official Live: 101 ProofOfficial Live: 101 Proof
-Credits:*Phil Anselmo – vocals*Dimebag Darrell – guitar*Rex Brown – bass guitar*Vinnie Paul – drums-Chart positions:...
. During live performances of the song, the band would have Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag Darrell
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...
performing backup vocals and would end the song with the outro of "By Demons Be Driven".
Cover art
The covers for parts 1 and 2 each show half of Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo's face. When compared, it can be seen that they are a mirror image of one another, and on part 2 of the single, the colors are inverted.Track listing
CD Single 1 (I'm Broken/Slaughtered Part 1)- All tracks written by Pantera
- "I'm Broken" - 4:25
- "Slaughtered" - 3:57
- "Cowboys from Hell (Live)" - 5:10
- "Psycho Holiday (Live)" - 5:49
CD Single 2 (I'm Broken/Slaughtered Part 2)
- All tracks written by Pantera
- "I'm Broken" - 4:25
- "Slaughtered" - 3:57
- "Domination (Live)" - 6:33
- "Primal Concrete Sledge (Live)" - 3:56
Charts
| Chart (1994) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Singles Chart ARIA Charts The ARIA charts are the main Australian music sales charts, issued weekly by the Australian Recording Industry Association. The charts are a record of the highest selling singles and albums in various genres in Australia. ARIA commenced compiling its own charts in-house from the week ending 26 June... |
49 |
| Swedish Singles Chart | 32 |
| UK Rock Songs Rock Songs Rock Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks the airplay of songs on alternative, mainstream rock and triple A radio stations. The first chart was published in the issue dated June 20, 2009. "Know Your Enemy" by Green Day was the first number-one song. The Rock Songs... |
2 |
| UK Singles Chart UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
19 |
Covers
"I'm Broken" was covered by MaleficeMalefice
Malefice are a British heavy metal band from Reading, Berkshire, England, formed in 2003.-Band history:They were formed by friends at college and started to write their songs straight away. Their first major break was to open a four band bill charity gig at the Rivermead Centre in Reading...
for Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer
Metal Hammer is a monthly heavy metal music magazine published in the United Kingdom by Future Publishing, and in several other countries by different publishers. Metal Hammer articles feature both mainstream bands and more unusual acts from the whole spectrum of heavy metal music...
's Dimebag Darrell
Dimebag Darrell
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...
tribute album, Getcha' Pull: A tribute to Dimebag Darrell.
Appearances in the media
- The song was released as downloadable content for Rock RevolutionRock RevolutionRock Revolution is a music video game developed by Zoë Mode and HB Studios and published by Konami. It was first revealed on May 15, 2008, and released on October 15, 2008 for the Nintendo DS, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360...
. - It is a playable track in Guitar Hero: Warriors of RockGuitar Hero: Warriors of RockGuitar Hero: Warriors of Rock is a music video game and the sixth main entry in the Guitar Hero series for the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360 consoles. The game was released September 24, 2010 in Europe, September 28, 2010 in North America and September 29, 2010 in Australia...
and is a downloadable track for Rock Band 3Rock Band 3Rock Band 3 is a music video game, developed by Harmonix Music Systems. The game was initially published and distributed by MTV Games and Electronic Arts, respectively, with Mad Catz taking over both roles a year later. It is the third main game in the Rock Band series...
. - The song was featured on Beavis and Butt-headBeavis and Butt-HeadBeavis and Butt-head is an American animated television series created by Mike Judge. The series originated from Frog Baseball, a 1992 short film by Judge. After seeing the short, MTV signed Judge to develop the concept. Beavis and Butt-head originally aired from March 8, 1993 to November 28, 1997...
on the episode "The Pipe of Doom".