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.
Article comments
1 - Aaman
In a display of support, all the albums of Pantera and Damageplan have appeared on newsgroups,
Ebay stuff being hocked too - one guitar is going for $2500
Commercialism at its 'best'
2 - Charlie Zeigler of The Militants
dimebag darrell was amazing talent...i met him on the cowboys from hell tour here in L.A. Ca. and then met darrell again at the L.A. Forum on the great southern trend kill tour.his personality was the same..straight up texas good people all around...world will miss you darrell....your moshing wings will fly forever my friend.
singer / songwriter charlie z of the militants
3 - Jameson Duke
I would just like to pay my respects to the greatest metal guitarist ever. (in whatever way I can) And would also like to say that I was at the show when Dimebag was killed. Front row, center. and it was the most tragic event of my life. I'll never forget standing about 3 feet away from dimebag as he lay on the floor of the pit at the Al Rosa Villa as I asked myself "why did this happen". As i stared in disbelief. I couldn't sleep for days and still can't believe what happened. Dimebag will never be forgotten.
4 - curtis berry
there is nothing i can say in words or writing to explain how fucked up it was to hear that my idol dimebag darrell had been shot, my heart goes out to his friends and family...metal will never be the same, RIP darrell may us fellow musicians pay respect to the greatest........
5 - Lt. Jay
Moments like this people are usually concerned with 'I', but this time it is someone else that we should be conserned with and that is DIME! Dime was such an insperation to all of us. So much infact that we have taken timeout of our day to show our appreciation and respect for the style of life that he shared with us through his guitar palying. Dime in my opinon made Metal as popular as it is. He continues to help me trough my struggles and he was always ture to himself. A down to earth and mellow person! Rest In PEACE DARRELL 'DIMEBAG' ABBOTT! This jay is for you my friend!
6 - Ed
I cried when I heard the news. He really was a beautiful person. I read in 'Guitar Player' how he said that guitar always sounds good to him, no matter how well or bad it's played.
RIP.