Guitarist remembered as police seek motive for shooting
Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 1:41 pm
By BRETT SHIPP / WFAA ABC 8
Rock fans from around the country spent Thursday mourning the death of a North Texas man considered to be one of the top heavy metal guitarists in the world.
"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was killed in a shooting rampage at a nightclub in Columbus, Ohio late Wednesday night, was known for his signature licks as part of 90s metal behemoth Pantera, as well as an easy-to-remember tune that came to be associated with the Dallas Stars.
Dimebag Darrell, 38, and his hockey fan brother Vinnie Paul, along with Pantera, recorded the Stars' unofficial theme song during their Stanley Cup run in 1999.
After Pantera broke up, the brothers started a new group, "Damageplan". The band had just taken the stage Wednesday when ex-Marine Nathan Gale, 25, rushed the stage and began blasting away, killing Darrell and three others before being shot and killed by a police officer.
Police were trying to determine whether Gale, who also played semipro football, was incensed because of last year's breakup of Pantera, his self-proclaimed favorite band. Police said Gale yelled something before firing five or six times at Abbott from point-blank range.
Vinnie Paul, who was on stage with his brother when the shots rang out in Columbus, returned home to North Texas with a police escort early Friday. He made no public statement.
News of Abbott's death stunned his fans and close friends.
Disc jockeys at Dallas stations 93.3 "The Bone" and 102.1 "The Edge" grieved along with listeners, who called in as the stations played music from the Abbotts' bands. Some suggested it's worth noting that Dimebag's death occurred on the 24th anniversary of John Lennon's murder in New York.
"This is a huge tragedy for the music world," said 93.3's morning host "Humble" Billy Hayes. "This situation hits pretty close to home because all of us have spent time with Dimebag."
Mr. Abbott, who attended Bowie and Arlington high schools but dropped out in 1984 during his senior year, was remembered as a legendary guitarist in tributes over the airwaves, on the Internet and at a makeshift memorial in front of his Dalworthington Gardens home.
Dave Bingham, 30, a Pantera fan since the mid-1980s, said he came to Mr. Abbott's home to see whether the tragedy was real but had trouble imagining why someone so friendly and outgoing would be killed.
"You would never guess he was a rock star unless you already knew," he said. "Not enough can be said for his music or him as a person."
"A tragic, tragic loss," said fan Jon Clegg. "The music business will never be the same."
"You are the people's rock star," read a hand-lettered sign. A note read, "I hope they got guitars in heaven."
The Dallas Morning News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Rock fans from around the country spent Thursday mourning the death of a North Texas man considered to be one of the top heavy metal guitarists in the world.
"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was killed in a shooting rampage at a nightclub in Columbus, Ohio late Wednesday night, was known for his signature licks as part of 90s metal behemoth Pantera, as well as an easy-to-remember tune that came to be associated with the Dallas Stars.
Dimebag Darrell, 38, and his hockey fan brother Vinnie Paul, along with Pantera, recorded the Stars' unofficial theme song during their Stanley Cup run in 1999.
After Pantera broke up, the brothers started a new group, "Damageplan". The band had just taken the stage Wednesday when ex-Marine Nathan Gale, 25, rushed the stage and began blasting away, killing Darrell and three others before being shot and killed by a police officer.
Police were trying to determine whether Gale, who also played semipro football, was incensed because of last year's breakup of Pantera, his self-proclaimed favorite band. Police said Gale yelled something before firing five or six times at Abbott from point-blank range.
Vinnie Paul, who was on stage with his brother when the shots rang out in Columbus, returned home to North Texas with a police escort early Friday. He made no public statement.
News of Abbott's death stunned his fans and close friends.
Disc jockeys at Dallas stations 93.3 "The Bone" and 102.1 "The Edge" grieved along with listeners, who called in as the stations played music from the Abbotts' bands. Some suggested it's worth noting that Dimebag's death occurred on the 24th anniversary of John Lennon's murder in New York.
"This is a huge tragedy for the music world," said 93.3's morning host "Humble" Billy Hayes. "This situation hits pretty close to home because all of us have spent time with Dimebag."
Mr. Abbott, who attended Bowie and Arlington high schools but dropped out in 1984 during his senior year, was remembered as a legendary guitarist in tributes over the airwaves, on the Internet and at a makeshift memorial in front of his Dalworthington Gardens home.
Dave Bingham, 30, a Pantera fan since the mid-1980s, said he came to Mr. Abbott's home to see whether the tragedy was real but had trouble imagining why someone so friendly and outgoing would be killed.
"You would never guess he was a rock star unless you already knew," he said. "Not enough can be said for his music or him as a person."
"A tragic, tragic loss," said fan Jon Clegg. "The music business will never be the same."
"You are the people's rock star," read a hand-lettered sign. A note read, "I hope they got guitars in heaven."
The Dallas Morning News and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
