4 Years ago

4 years ago today, this world lost a very talented, and absolutely awesome musician. Darrell Abbott, for those who followed him, knew him as Diamond, then Dimebag, was killed 4 years ago today, in Columbus OH at the Alrosa Villa. He, and his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, formed the band Pantera. From the moment I heard Pantera for the first time, I was immediately hooked on their raw, gritty, guitar-riffed heavy songs...the more I listened, the more I liked. From songs like Walk, Cowboys From Hell, I'm Broken, 5 Minutes Alone, and their phenominal remake of Planet Caravan, this group will forever be known for thei revolutionization of heavy metal. At a time when grunge was the way, they showed the grittier the music, the better.

I found Pantera back in 1990-ish, when Cowboys From Hell was released. I still to this day have the casette tape!

I will remember the day I found out about it. I was sitting at work, and the phone rings, and it is my sister. Now, we talk alot, even to this day, but during work hours, alot of times its via email. So it was kind of odd for her to call me at work. I asked her if everything was OK. She said yes, she then asked if I had heard...heard what? I asked. She told me Dime had been shot and killed the night before. She knew how much I loved Pantera. I was in total shock. At first I am thinking "Shot - HOW? Where?" So I had to go find out...so i researched, and immediately went into a semi-rage! HOW COULD HE!!! NATHAN GALE YOU COWARD SON OF A BITCH!!! Officer Niggemeyer that night put a shotgun blast to your face. You earned every pellet that shotgun blasted that night...

Society has come to this? We dont like the actions (or more to the point UNDERSTAND) of others, so we kill them? Wear a Dodger's hat in the wrong part of LA they shoot people? Wear a Saints jersey to work (the day AFTER they pulverize the Packers!) and people scowl like **I** had something to do with the lack of effort (and play calling) from the Packers, causing the loss? Its just sick.

Darrell did not have to die that night. With him, died a legend, a musician, that cannot be replaced.

RIP Darrell - you are missed