Legion World Forums LEGION COMPANION The Anywhere Machine Former Pantera Guitarist Slain

Former Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott was among five killed last night at a nightclub in Columbus, Ohio when a disgruntled fan took the stage and started shooting. Abbott had just taken the stage with his new band Damageplan when a 25 year old Ohio man got up on stage and shot him 5 or 6 times, shot and killed at least one other band member and two audience members before being gunned down himself by a police officer.

The speculation is that the gunman was taking revenge on Dimebag Darrell for the breakup of Pantera a couple of years ago.

Here's the story from MSNBC.com.

I've never been a huge fan of Pantera, but from everything I've heard about Dimebag Darrell he was a great guy, one of the most fan-friendly people in the music industry. Damageplan just played here in Buffalo Tuesday night. During the show they invited the members of a local Pantera tribute band up on stage to jam with them.

The shooting comes 24 years to the day after John Lennon was shot and killed in New York City.

I had posted this earlier this morning but went ahead and deleted my thread since all I had was the radio reports I had been listening to.

Damageplan had a song on the Punisher soundtrack, Ashes to Ashes. Not a bad song. I think, but can't confirm, that they also were going to be on the upcoming Elektra soundtrack as well.

WTF???

Sorry Scott. I didn't notice another thread when I started writing this one up.

This has been kind of big story on my local rock station last night into this morning because they were just here the night before the shooting. There were tons of people calling in and telling stories about meeting Darrell and hanging out with him Tuesday night and in years past. Sounds like he was a great guy to hang out with. None of the pretentious B.S. that you usually get from these guys once they start to get a little bit of a following.

They still haven't named the other band member killed, but the rumor on the radio now is that the authorities are still trying to contact the Abbott family in Texas, and that it was Darrell's brother, drummer Vinnie Abbott, who also played in Pantera, that was killed. That's not confirmed as of yet, but that's the latest I've heard.

Not to worry Lou. It happens all the time.

I heard reports of Vinnie falling after his brother was killed. But nothing confirming if the other shots fired at the stage hit him or if he just ducked behind his drums for cover.

I was always a metalhead. And Pantera was one of the best metal bands there were. I was glad that Darrell and Vinnie decided to continue playing after the band broke up. They were both close to my age (Darrell was my age, 38, and Vinnie is 40) and I'm always happy to see people our age continue rocking.

And as you've said, Darrell was one of the good guys. That's probably how the guy was able to get onto the stage so easily. He enjoyed being around the fans.

I've been a hardcore Pantera fan since I was in the seventh grade. This is just sad. Dimebag was one of the best guitarists I've ever listened to...Pantera was one of the three bads I *worshipped* as a kid (with Metallica and Megadeth). I'm sad to see Vinnie has died too.

I saw Pantera in concert a few years ago, well after I was out of the Pantera-fanatic phase, and they still rocked. Dimebag, Vinnie and the bassist (his name escapes me) all came out to greet the fans in the lobby randomely and were really cool (Phil wasn't with them). They were some of the friendliest guys I've ever seen that were that famous.

A damn shame.

I haven't seen it confirmed anywhere that Vinnie was the other band member killed. Every news story I've read about the shooting still says that the identity of the other slain band member isn't being disclosed pending notification of the family.

I was home from my 1st semester at university when i saw my 1st Pantera video....."cowboys from hell". Been hooked on Pantera ever since.....

I have't even seen it confirmed it was another band member. The story on CNN I just saw said another concert goer.

thats just crazy, he was shot 4 TIMES at point blank range, how the hell does someone casually walk up on stage from behind and pull this off. As far as i know no one else in the band was killed, dimebag darrell was the target, and i guess anyone else who got in the way.

That was what they were saying on the radio this morning. Now according to MSNBC they're saying it was a club employee that was playing roadie for the band that was killed in addition to Darrell, two audience members and the gunman who was killed by a police officer.

According to the story Vinnie Paul Abbott, Damageplan drummer and brother of Dimebag Darrell was rushed off stage and escaped without injury.

I was a big Pantera fan back in the day as well- thus my name on this board Saw 'em years ago in a small club when they were touring in support of Cowboys from Hell. Sad that people let this kind of thing get to them so badly that they resort to killing. The gunman's in the hell reserved for dumbasses now: "Hey, tell me...how can Pantera EVER get back together if you've KILLED ONE OF THE MEMBERS?!?!?"


RIP Dimebag

This is just crushing. Dime was an inspiration to all us guitar players. He was a great guy who didn't let success go to his head. He will be missed...

I'm glad to hear that Vinnie Paul is still alive, but this is still a terrible tragedy.

RIP Dimebag.

What a shame.

Got this from Yahoo News this morning...

Dimebag Killer Deranged, Mother Says


I found it kind of sad that Darryl's family didn't want Phil Anselmo at the funeral.