Rob Halford, Phil Anselmo and Zakk Wylde Remember ‘Dimebag’ Darrell Abbott
Story by Anne Erickson
Pantera guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott was shot and killed 10 years ago today
Metal guitarist ‘Dimebag’ Darrell Abbott of Pantera was brutally murdered 10 years ago today—on Dec. 8, 2004. Abbott was shot and killed during a gig with his other band, Damageplan, at the Alrosa Villa venue in Columbus, Ohio.
In honor of the tenth anniversary of Dimebag’s passing, Billboard checked in with Abbott’s musician friends to reminisce about Dimebag’s life and impact.
“I would put Dimebag in the same territory as (Jimi) Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Eddie Van Halen — all the (legendary) guitarists that we think about when we think about rock and metal,” Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford said.
“I’ve always said that if he was still alive today, he and I would have buried the hatchet a long time ago, and Pantera absolutely would have continued on and we would have made new records,” added Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo.
“He was like Blutarsky in ‘Animal House’— you could just be having the most crap day, and then Dime would walk into the room and the party would begin!” Black Label Society guitarist Zakk Wylde said. “He was like the Rat Pack all in one guy — he was Dean (Martin), Frank (Sinatra), Sammy (Davis Jr.), the whole Rat Pack in one human being!”
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