Way back in 1993 a friend recommended that I check out this band called Pantera. I didn't until a year later. In 1994 Pantera released their third album, Far Beyond Driven. This was the first album I ever heard by the foursome. It was a collection of brutal, bone crunching, no holds barred, take no prisoners metal. As soon as I heard this I was hooked, I went out and got the first two albums, Cowboys from Hell and Vulgar Display of Power.
The music on display here was incredible, everything just came together so well. Aggressive vocals, guitars that crushed your skull with their riffs and melted your face with the solos, drums that were innovative and hard as anything your likely to hear, all backed by a solid gut rumbling bass player.
As a fan of metal, Pantera quickly became one of my favorite bands. Dimebag Darrell's guitar playing was particularly attractive to me. He played along that fine line separating music and noise creating this incredible wall of sound. Heavy riffs that got your head moving combined with those blazing solos. He was one of the top guitar players on the metal scene for over ten years creating heavy music that will live on.
As the nineties came to a close, so did Pantera. Phil Anselmo was moving onto other projects leaving the rest of the band to pick up the pieces. Darrell and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul, went on to form a new group, Damageplan. The released their first album earlier this year, and thankfully it was not just another version of Pantera. The album, while not as strong as Pantera's work, was a good piece of metal mayhem. It was also a sign that Darrell was moving on and forging a new metal sound, and not just content to remake past success. Unfortunately we will not be able to bear witness to any more innovations from this metal madman.
Late last night at a club in Ohio, a young man ran onstage at the start of Damageplan's set and shot "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott multiple times at point blank range, killing him. This is not just about Darrell, four others were killed, including another member of the band, and two injured before the gunman was shot and killed by a police officer.
I know for most of you this is old news, but this is the first moment I have had to sit down and write something. It is weird because I was listening to Pantera's greatest hits album last night and this morning on my way to work. A co-worker told me about what happened and I didn't want to believe him, but he wasn't lying.
Dimebag's untimely passing is a loss to the world of music and to those who knew him. I have heard that he truly was a good guy. No one should ever have to lose a loved one in such a violent manner as this in such a public arena. Why someone would want to kill him is beyond me, it is an unthinkable act from a disturbed mind.
I had the opportunity to see Pantera perform live a few years ago, and am very glad to have been there. The live show they put on is incredible, loud full of energy, feeding off the crowd of ravenous fans in the pit. Tearing through all of their hits with fearless aggression, taking on the world. It is a show I will always remember.
My heart goes out to Vinnie and the rest of Darrell's family and loved ones. He will truly be missed. Always remember he will live on in the music he has created for us.
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