Shinedown, Disturbed and More Pay Tribute to Vinnie Paul
Story by Charles Ken, photo by Anne Erickson
The hard rock and metal community is honoring Vinnie Paul with a sea of messages
Vinnie Paul Abbott, who co-founded the metal band Pantera, passed away last weekend at 54 years old. The news broke via a message on the Pantera Facebook page, stating, “Vincent Paul Abbott aka Vinnie Paul has passed away. Paul is best known for his work as the drummer in the bands Pantera and Hellyeah. No further details are available at this time. The family requests you please respect their privacy during this time.”
Vinnie Paul and his brother, Dimebag Darrell, created Pantera in 1981. With singer Phil Anselmo on board, the group became one of the biggest heavy metal bands of their era. Pantera has pushed more than 60 million albums. Vinnie went on to perform in Damageplan and Hellyeah.
Vinnie’s friends and colleagues are paying tribute to the drummer on social media. Below is a collection of comments from the metal and hard rock community.
Shinedown frontman Brent Smith posted a video with him remembering his first encounter with Vinnie 18 years ago at a music festival in Kansas City. Smith said that Shinedown was in a trailer with two sections, and on the other side were Vinnie and Dimebag. Vinnie and Dimebag kicked down the door between the two sections and said, “There’s not going to be any doors between us. We’ve never met you and you’ve never met us but, but at this moment in time, we’re all family.”
“I just woke up in Belgium to the news that my friend Vinnie Paul has passed away,” Dave Mustaine stated, “Another metal hero taken too soon. Say hello to Daryl for me. Rest In Peace, my dear friend.”
“GOD BLESS VINNIE PAUL – 1964-2O18 – FATHER VINNIE,Your Compassion for others & Your Love for seeing everyone around you Happy I will never forget – Your Heart of Gold Made The World a Better Place – Go be w/Your BELOVED BROTHER – I LOVE YOU – tBLSt SDMF,” Zakk Wylde tweeted.
Disturbed tweeted, “Our deepest condolences go out to the friends, fans, family, and loved ones of our friend, Vinnie Paul. Our hearts are broken.”
“Terribly saddened by the news of Vinnie Paul’s passing,” Alice Cooper tweeted, “Vinnie was a beloved fixture in the rock and metal communities and we will miss seeing him out on the road. His impact on heavy music is immeasurable. Rest In Peace Vinnie, condolences to your family, friends and fans.”
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