Jan. 30, 2007 - Six-String Masterpieces: The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute

"Six-String Masterpieces: The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute" — the art exhibit of guitars that have been hand-painted, illustrated and sculpted by top rockers and modern artists in tribute to one of the most influential metal guitarists of all-time, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott of DAMAGEPLAN and PANTERA — will be on display at the the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel in Tampa, Florida for three days only — from Friday, March 30 to Sunday, April 1. After travelling the world, the exhibit is finally playing the city that spawned the whole project. Both Dean Guitars and curator Curse Mackey are based in Tampa.

This will be the largest showing to date of these beautiful guitars as recent works by Billy Gibbons of ZZ TOP, modern artist Daniel Martin Diaz, Al Jourgensen of MINISTRY, Paul Raven of MINISTRY, Nancy Wilson of HEART, Leslie West of MOUNTAIN and psychedelic art legend Alex Grey are all set to debut at the Hard Rock.

The guitars are going to be auctioned off in May to support Little Kids Rock, an amazing music education foundation. The Hard Rock event also will serve as a fundraiser for Little Kids Rock as the organizers' goal is to establish a chapter of Little Kids Rock in the Tampa Bay area as well as in the Dallas area, home of Dimebag.

"Six-String Masterpieces: The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute" hours for the Tampa exhibit:

Friday, March 30, 7 to 11 p.m. - Opening party hosted by Curse Mackey
Saturday, March 31, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Sunday, April 1, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

"Six-String Masterpieces: The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute" was on display at most of last year's Ozzfest dates. This phenomenal exhibit features original artwork, painted on a guitar, by Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, METALLICA, MUDVAYNE, Zakk Wylde, Kerry King, Paul Booth, GODSMACK, DEFTONES, OTEP and many other leading musicians and artists.


Jan. 30, 2007 - DOWN Guitarist On Upcoming Album: These Are 'Angry, Frustrated Songs'

DOWN
guitarist Pepper Keenan recently spoke to Chris Harris of MTV.com about the making of the New Orleans group's third full-length album, tentatively titled "Down III". Producer Warren Riker (CROWBAR, SUBLIME) has already signed on to helm the effort, for which the band has composed 18 tracks so far.

"[Frontman] Phil's [Anselmo, ex-PANTERA] really good at [lyrics]," Keenan said. "Several songs address [Hurricane] Katrina's aftermath and how life changes on you, man. We've got a lot of ammunition for this one, I'll put it that way — a lot of things have not necessarily gone right for everybody these last couple of years. Everybody's just trying to stay positive. We're not writing Christian songs. These are still angry, frustrated songs."

One new track addresses the death of Anselmo's former PANTERA cohort, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who was gunned down in 2004 while performing with DAMAGEPLAN in Columbus, Ohio. The guitarist was shot five times at point-blank range and died onstage.

"[Phil]'s got a lot of demons he needs to get off his chest," said Keenan. "This is gonna be a hard record for us to make because there's just a lot of emotional things going on. I think we'll all be better after we get this thing done. But Phil's got one beautiful song about Dime that really surprised me. When I heard it, I was pretty watery-eyed. Those [PANTERA days] were beautiful days for him. The whole song is pretty intense, and it's actually a heavy song. That's the wild thing about it — it's not a ballad or anything."

DOWN plans to begin recording the album February 15. They'll take about a month off, first to tour Canada with HEAVEN AND HELL, then to play four headlining gigs between March 30 (Worcester, Massachusetts) and April 2 (Washington, D.C.).

After the tour wraps, DOWN will return to the studio to track the remainder of "Down III", which the guitarist said could be out by summer's end. "Once we get in the studio, we shouldn't be more than six, seven weeks," he said. "We've already spent all the time [writing it] — we're just getting ready to bang the sh-- out."

Read the entire interview at MTV.com.


Jan. 24, 2007 - DOWN: U.S. East Coast Headlining Shows Announced

DOWN
— the acclaimed New Orleans band featuring CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower (EYEHATEGOD, SUPERJOINT RITUAL guitarist), bassist Rex Brown (ex-PANTERA), guitarist Kirk Windstein (CROWBAR), and vocalist Philip Anselmo (SUPERJOINT RITUAL, ex-PANTERA) — has confirmed four headlining shows on the U.S. East Coast immediately following the group's stint as the opening band on the HEAVEN AND HELL Canadian tour (also featuring MEGADETH). DOWN's schedule is now shaping up as follows:

Mar. 11 - Vancouver, BC @ Pacific Coliseum
Mar. 13 - Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
Mar. 14 - Calgary, AB @ Saddledome
Mar. 16 - Regina, SK @ Brandt Centre
Mar. 18 - Winnipeg, MB @ MTS Centre
Mar. 20 - Sault St. Marie, ON @ Steelback Centre
Mar. 22 - Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
Mar. 24 - London, ON @ John Labatt Centre
Mar. 26 - Montreal, PQ @ Bell Centre
Mar. 27 - Quebec City, PQ @ Colisee Pepsi Arena
Mar. 28 - Ottawa, ON @ Civic Centre
Mar. 30 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium *
Mar. 31 - New York, NY @ Roseland *
Apr. 01 - Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory *
Apr. 02 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *

* DOWN headlining shows


Jan. 16, 2007 - VINNIE PAUL: HELLYEAH CD Is Best Record I've Collaborated On Since PANTERA's 'Vulgar Display'

HELLYEAH, the new band featuring former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott alongside members of MUDVAYNE and NOTHINGFACE, will release its self-titled debut album on April 10 via Epic Records.

The quintet includes three of hard rock's most revered and valuable players, with careers highlighted by an astonishing run of chart-topping gold and platinum albums, major industry awards, critical acclaim, Grammy nominations and music of monolithic power.

"Tom [Maxwell, NOTHINGFACE; guitar], Jerry [Montano, DANZIG, NOTHINGFACE; bass] and I have been talking about working together ever since we staggered through the streets of New Orleans five years ago," says MUDVAYNE/HELLYEAH vocalist Chad "Helvis" Gray. "I mentioned it to Greg [Tribbett, MUDVAYNE; guitar] and he immediately wanted in, and when Vinnie came on board the whole thing just took on a life of its own. This was a must-do project for all of us."

"The guys from HELLYEAH and the incredible music we've created have brought me back to what I love," states Vinnie. "'HellYeah' is the best record I've collaborated on since [PANTERA's] 'Vulgar Display of Power'. The vibe is ‘positive with a kick-your-ass-attitude.' I can't wait to take this band on tour."

Gray and Tribbett will tour in support of the HELLYEAH debut in between recording the new MUDVAYNE album. The follow-up to 2004's blockbuster release, "Lost And Found", which debuted at No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200, is due this fall and finds the Grammy-nominated quartet working once again with producer Dave Fortman (EVANESCENCE, SUPERJOINT RITUAL).

"It's cool to have both MUDVAYNE and HELLYEAH as creative outlets now, even though the approach, subject matter, and attitudes between the two projects are completely different," says Gray. "I'm looking forward to balancing both bands in my life — my new extremely busy life."

A nine-minute video of HELLYEAH writing and recording its self-titled album in Dallas, Texas has been posted online at YouTube.com. Two songs from the CD — "Hellyeah" and "Matter of Time" — are available for listening on the band's MySpace page.

Jan. 16, 2007 - DIMEBAG Book Author Says There Is No Evidence Killer Was Influenced By PHIL ANSELMO's Words.

Brandon Daviet of NewDealers.com recently conducted an interview with Chris A., author of the upcoming book about the murder of PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, "A Vulgar Display Of Power: Courage And Carnage At The Alrosa Villa". The question-and-answer session follows:

NewDealers.com: What originally interested you in doing this book?

Chris A.: Well, the whole event really kind of bothered me, and I don't think I had felt that way since John Lennon was killed. It was just one of those things that I had a lot of questions about, and I was always very skeptical about the break-up of PANTERA being the cause. I was also very interested in the other three people who were killed that night, and there was very little in the media about them. Their stories seemed to be obscured by Dimebag's celebrity so I started to do some digging.

NewDealers.com: What did you find out?

Chris A.: Well, after I went on line and did a little poking around. I discovered that were really very few things of any merit that had been written, so I got the idea in my mind that maybe it was something I could do.

NewDealers.com: At one point, in a 2004 interview with Metal Hammer magazine, Phil Anselmo had said that Dimebag "deserves to be severely beaten." How much do you think that statement might have influenced Dimebag's murder?

Chris A.: I looked into that aspect a great deal and the fact is that nobody knows. Obviously if he [Nathan Gale] heard about it or read about it, one could suspect that it may have influenced him. As far as finding anything absolute or concrete that he was even aware of the interview, there wasn't anything.

NewDealers.com: Did you speak with members of the Columbus Police Department in your research for the book?

Chris A.: Yes. I spoke with the homicide detectives, ambulance crews. I spoke with the families of the victims and the mother of Nathan Gale as well as speaking to tons of fans. I probably corresponded with close to 200 people while researching the book.

NewDealers.com: After doing all this research do you think that there was anything that could have been done to prevent this from happening?

Chris A.: Well, hindsight is always twenty-twenty, but as far as culpability goes I would put the culpability squarely on the shoulders of Gale. I'm not aware of any precedent to his actions, I never found any instance of somebody actually getting onstage and killing a performer. I think the biggest misconception is that there was something that the venue missed. I think the security at Alrosa Villa that night, and this is based on my opinion, was no better or no worse than the security at other clubs that I'd seen. We're not talking about somebody getting drunk and starting a fight or smoking weed. We're talking about an armed intruder coming into a club with a mission to kill people, and I don't know of a single venue anywhere in the United States that has a protocol to deal with that.

NewDealers.com: Do you think that the level of aggression present in the type of music that DAMAGEPLAN, and other bands of the same ilk, are playing had anything to do with the tragedy?

Chris A.: I absolutely, totally reject that and that is part of the thesis of the book. It's very easy to take a negative, narrow view of heavy metal based on what happened. What the book is going to very clearly explain is that the killer was not a fan, and he was not enamored with PANTERA or Dimebag for the reasons people think he was. Looking beyond that it is absolutely inspiring and amazing that so many people stayed around and tried to help. When the police showed up there were 250 people milling around the parking lot waiting to give statements. One of the detectives, Bill Gillette, said that in his nine and a half years of working homicides he had never seen that kind of cooperation.


Jan. 15, 2007 - DOWN Guitarist PEPPER KEENAN: 'We're Real Focused On Being Timeless'

DOWN — the acclaimed New Orleans band featuring CORROSION OF CONFORMITY guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower (EYEHATEGOD, SUPERJOINT RITUAL guitarist), bassist Rex Brown (ex-PANTERA), guitarist Kirk Windstein (CROWBAR), and vocalist Philip Anselmo (SUPERJOINT RITUAL, ex-PANTERA) — is currently working on the material for its third album, tentatively due later in the year. "We're doing this one the way we did our first album, when we were 19 or 20 years old," Keenan explained to Revolver magazine (web site). "So we're jamming in a room, recording on a jam box, and then throwing them on the ProTools rig and building things from there."

According to Pepper, fans should not expect to hear nu-metal or anything trendy from the forthcoming CD. "You will never hear that type of shit from us," he explained. "We're real focused on being timeless."

DOWN's new album will be the first since Anselmo underwent back surgery in November 2005. "Me and Kirk drink a little bit here and there, but Phil, Rex Brown and Jimmy are completely sober," said Keenan. "I'm running every day. Everyone's exercising. Phil had that back surgery, so he's doing a lot of core strengthening in and around his spine, and he's doing great.


Jan. 14, 2007 - DIMEBAG: Follow-Up To 'DimeVision' DVD Due In The Summer

According to Revolver magazine (web site), late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott's longtime partner, Rita Haney, and videographer Bobby Tongs have started to sift through footage for the follow-up to the DVD "DimeVision - Vol 1: That's The Fun I Have". The disc should be ready for release in the summer. "I can't wait to see it," Dimebag's brother and former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN bandmate Vinnie Paul Abbott says. "I'm sure it'll include stuff that I didn't even know about. Like, I knew Dime did a lot of crazy, fucked-up shit, but I didn't know about the fireworks he lit in the house until I saw the first videos. I don't know how he didn't burn his house down."


Jan. 5, 2007 - PANTERA 'Lullabies' Featured On 'Rockabye Baby!' Compilation

"Lullaby renditions" of songs by PANTERA, SLAYER, KISS, METALLICA, IRON MAIDEN, and OZZY OSBOURNE, among others, are featured on "Rockabye Baby!", a compilation album that aims to take "the best indie, metal and rock songs and [craft] them into radiant instrumental lullabies!" according to the official product description. "Your little one can now fall asleep to the sounds of METALLICA, LED ZEP, MAIDEN, NIRVANA, TOOL, KISS, PANTERA, SLAYER and more!"

Available at HotTopic.com, "Rockabye Baby!" (view cover here) features the following track listing:

04. Hollow (Lullaby to PANTERA)


Dec. 6, 2006 - DOWN Drummer: The New Record Is 'Going Great'

DOWN drummer Jimmy Bower has issued the following update on the songwriting sessions for the group's third album:

"[The new DOWN] record's going great. Y'all are gonna freak — I am. It's cold as fuck; makes for better doom. . . You ain't gonna be dead before the next DOWN CD. Things are on FIRE and we have a big point to prove here. The South shall always rise while we are at the helm!!"

DOWN members Pepper Keenan, Bower, Kirk Windstein, and Philip Anselmo performed at Tiptina's in New Orleans, Louisiana on November 12 as part of the "Sunday Music Workshop Series". The brainchild of Stanton Moore and Johnny and Deborah Vidacovich, the workshops take place every Sunday from 12:30 to 3:30 at Tipitina's Uptown, where students have the opportunity to play with and learn from the best musicians in the city. Check out pictures and stories from the event at the PANTERA message board.


Dec. 3, 2006 - Very Rare DIMEBAG Track Surfaces

Dan McNew
, the organizer of the Ride for Dime bike rally in honor of late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, has posted the following message on the RideForDime.com web site:

"We all know Dimebag's musical roots were in country western music, and we all know what a great sense of humor he had. And last but not least, Dime supported the local music scene in Dallas and would sometimes record with local musicians. I ran into one of those musicians, 'Throbbin Donnie Rodd' tonight [Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006] in a club who told me the story of how Dimebag sat in on a recording session with him and recorded this country western song called 'Country Western Transvestite Whore'. Dime plays lead guitar and lead vocals. I just wanted to pass this song on to everyone. Enjoy!"

Download the track at this location.




Nov. 14, 2006 - DOWN: Photos From This Past Weekend's' 'Sunday Music Workshop Series' Available

DOWN
members Pepper Keenan, Jimmy Bower, Kirk Windstein, and Philip Anselmo performed at Tiptina's in New Orleans, Louisiana on Sunday (November 12) as part of the "Sunday Music Workshop Series". The brainchild of Stanton Moore and Johnny and Deborah Vidacovich, the workshops take place every Sunday from 12:30 to 3:30 at Tipitina's Uptown, where students have the opportunity to play with and learn from the best musicians in the city. Check out pictures from the event.


Nov. 10, 2006 - DIMEBAG Inducted Into Hard Rock Cafe Dallas Walk Of Fame: Photos Available

John Austin
of the Star-Telegram has issued the following report:
The Dallas Hard Rock Cafe added a star honoring slain guitar player "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott to its walk of fame in a ceremony Thursday night (Nov. 9). Abbott, along with his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, were part of PANTERA, one of the most acclaimed metal bands of the 1990s. The brothers were performing with DAMAGEPLAN, a band they formed after leaving PANTERA, when Darrell Abbott was fatally shot onstage in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 8, 2004. He was 38. The guitarist lived in Dalworthington Gardens at the time of his death and is buried in Arlington. After the star unveiling, Vinnie Paul Abbott and Darrell's longtime companion, Rita Haney, presented the Dean guitar Darrell Abbott used on PANTERA's "101 Proof" tour. [See photo at this location.]
Last year the pair presented another guitar "Dime" had owned to the Hard Rock cafe in San Antonio, according to a report in the San Antonio Express-News.
Check out more pictures at the Star-Telegram.


Oct. 31, 2006 - VINNIE PAUL's New Band Has A Name: HELLYEAH

Former PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott has confirmed that his new band with members of Mudvayne and Nothingface has been officially dubbed HELLYEAH. The group has been writing and recording material in Dallas, Texas for what will eventually become its debut album, tentatively due in March 2007.

HELLYEAH lineup is as follows:

Chad Gray (MUDVAYNE) - Vocals
Greg Tribbett (MUDVAYNE) - Guitar
Tom Maxwell (NOTHINGFACE) - Guitar
Jerry Montano (DANZIG, NOTHINGFACE) - Bass
Vinnie Paul Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN) - Drums

A headlining tour is tentatively expected to take place beginning in March, although this has yet to be officially confirmed.

In a June 2006 interview with the Fort Worth Weekly, Vinnie Paul spoke briefly about the new group, stating, "I have been working with different people, and I really can't tell you who they are right now because we're in the middle of everything. . . The more and more I go along, the more I miss playing, but it's all been part of the healing process, and time is truth. And if [the playing] I am [doing] right now becomes the real deal, then I will get back to it very soon."

It should be noted that the new project's existence will not affect the status of Mudvayne, who have spent the past few weeks writing material for their fourth album.

Oct. 19, 2006 - VINNIE PAUL On REBEL MEETS REBEL: 'It Helped Me Feel Like I Was Working With DIMEBAG Again'

Eden Munro
of Vue Weekly reports:

REBEL MEETS REBEL, the band fusing outlaw country singer David Allan Coe with three fourths of PANTERA, means a lot to drummer Vinnie Paul.

The band's self-titled album has been part of the healing process for Paul, who lost his brother and band mate, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, during a tragic shooting two years ago. The REBEL MEETS REBEL album had already been recorded, so it was a natural step for Paul to release it on his own record label.

"It's something that helped me feel like I was working with him again," Paul explains over the phone from Texas. "And it's something that I know he really had a burning desire to get out for people to hear, because he was really proud of it, and I know it's something that David [Allan Coe] really loved and cherished and is very happy that it's finally seen the light of day."

Sessions for the album took place over a four-year stretch starting in 1999, with the musicians recording whenever they were all in in Dallas with some time to kill between their respective tours. For Paul, part of the magic of the album is that they did it on their own — without any record company people, managers or producers lurking about and trying to get them to conform to some preconceived and easily marketable notion.

Every time the band went into a session, they started fresh, letting the vibe lead the way, as they put together a few songs. Though Paul admits that the musicians were intimidated the first time they got together with CoePaul says that he and Abbott grew up on a steady dose of Coe's music at home — it was the country renegade himself who put them at ease.

"He came in the studio and we didn't know where to start and he just said, 'Dude, just get on the groove and go,'" Paul laughs. "So we started into 'Nothin' to Lose', which is probably the most metal sounding track on there. We started into that thing and we just kept going and we said, 'what do you think?' and he said 'I fucking love it, just keep going. I'm writing some words over here.' As soon as we finished the music he's, like, 'it's my turn, give me the goddamned mic.' We give him the mic and he starts singing and we just looked at each other and went, 'wow, this is just fucking cool.'"

Read the rest of the article at www.vueweekly.com.

Sep. 26, 2006 - ARSON ANTHEM Featuring PHILIP ANSELMO, MIKE WILLIAMS

Several better-quality video clips of ARSON ANTHEM — the new band featuring Philip Anselmo, Mike Williams and Hank Williams III— performing on September 13 at the Howling Wolf in New Orleans, Lousiana have been posted online.

The unannounced appearance took place during Hank III's solo headlining concert at the venue.

ARSON ANTHEM lineup:

Mike Williams (EYEHATEGOD, OUTLAW ORDER) – Vocals
Philip Anselmo (DOWN, SUPERJOINT RITUAL, ex-PANTERA) – Guitar
Hank III (SUPERJOINT RITUAL) – Drums
Collin - Bass

According to Hank III, ARSON ANTHEM recently spent six days in Houston, Texas recording eight songs. There is no word yet on whether these songs will be part of a full-length album.


Aug 20, 2006 - Dime's 40th Birthday. Rest in peace Darrell.



July 13, 2006 - VINNIE PAUL: TED NUGENT's Anti-PANTERA Comments 'Really Bummed Me Out'

RockConfidential.com
: Ted Nugent recently commented on PANTERA's version of "Cat Scratch Fever" on his message board. Here's what he had to say: "I've never thought too highly of anyone foolish enough to take on the nickname of a life-destroying dope product and promote such family-destroying conduct on stage. Though I'm no expert on all things PANTERA, I did hear their version of "Cat Scratch Fever" and it was exceedingly white. No soul, no balls, no feel. Caucasian all the way. Elements of dope, booze and heroin disconnect quite apparent as usual. There is no excuse for such horrifically negative, irresponsible, criminal, America-wrecking behavior as such chimp-like substance abuse. Period. They appeared as Ozzy-like zombies on TV. Ya think. American drunks and dopers are allahpuke terrorists' favorite allies. Damn them. Damn them all." What do you think about that?

Vinnie: "Me and Dime met him and he was really cool. We told him about doing the cover and he seemed pretty excited about it. It took me by total shock and surprise when I saw those comments. It really bummed me out, man."

Read the entire interview at RockConfidential.com.


'DimeVision', PANTERA's 'Three Vulgar Videos From Hell' Get Certified - June 24, 2006

"DimeVision - Vol 1: That's The Fun I Have"
, the recently released DVD tribute to late Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, has been officially certified gold by the RIAA for U.S. shipments of 50,000 units. Thanks to everyone that purchased one from Pantera.com!


May 25, 2006 - DIMEFEST 2006: Lineup, Running Order Announced

The 2006 edition of Dimefest — the annual benefit concert in remembrance of late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott — will take place on Saturday, August 19 at the Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth, TX. Last year's event was almost completely sold out and this year is sure to be equally successful.

Dimefest 2006 lineup:

12:45 - JACKNIFE (Dallas, TX)
11:45 - PREMENISHEN (Abilene, TX)
10:45 - DRIVEN BELOW (Dallas, TX)
09:55 - COURSE OF RUIN (Round Round, TX)
09:05 - PROOFED (Dallas, TX)
08:15 - KALIYA (Dallas, TX)
07:25 - STATUS HATE (Dallas, Texas)
06:35 - THREAT LEVEL (Kokomo, IN)
05:45 - SPLINTER (Ft. Worth, TX)
04:55 - PLAGUE (San Antonio, TX)
04:05 - SCUM SCUNGE (Dallas, TX)


May 20, 2006 - PHILIP ANSELMO Dedicates First-Ever DOWN European Show To DIMEBAG

DOWN — the acclaimed New Orleans band featuring guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower , bassist Rex Brown, guitarist Kirk Windstein , and vocalist Philip Anselmo — played their first-ever European show Friday night (May 19) in Hamburg, Germany. A fan who attended the gig has posted the following review on the band's message board: "Just witnessed a historic moment last night in Grosse Freiheit, in Hamburg Germany. Down playing their first European show ever. First of all, it was a migthy return to the stage for both Phil and Rex, and overall the show was a blast! Even though it seemed like Phil was getting somewhat emotional about being back on stage after all the shit he's been through and at times looking a little, shall we say, disoriented, everybody in the room felt they were a part of something very special. They opened with 'Lysergik Funeral Procession' after which Phil dedicated the rest of the show to Dime and all the other comrades fallen along the way. It was obvious to everyone present that this was indeed a special evening. For me it's the best show I've been to in years. And I can only urge people who haven't already gotten tickets for the European tour to go get some. Damn, DOWN is back!"


May 12, 2006 - PANTERA: VH1 'Behind The Music' Footage Posted Online

Several portions of the VH1 "Behind the Music" special on Pantera, which had its premiere Thursday night (May 11), have been posted online at YouTube.com. The show includes brand new interviews with the surviving members of Pantera — Vinnie Paul Abbott (drums), Philip Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) — along with appearances by Guy Sykes (tour manager), Walter O'Brien (manager), Terry Date (producer), about five members of Pantera's crew, and Rita Haney ("Dimebag" Darrell Abbott's girlfriend).


Apr. 22, 2006 - Bassist Hank III: Superjoint Ritual Is 'In The Grave'

In a recent interview with Live-Metal.net, Superjoint Ritual bassist Hank III discussed his new solo album, "Straight to Hell", and revealed that he is working on a new project with Superjoint Ritual/ex-Pantera frontman Philip Anselmo called ARSON ANTHEM. A couple of excerpts from the interview follow:

Live-Metal.net: What is going on with Superjoint Ritual?

Hank III: "Superjoint Ritual is in the grave right now, because someone tried bossing the boss and you never boss the boss. Now he had to learn the hard way, so Philip has laid that band to rest. It might come back. I seriously doubt it. But in the meantime, DOWN is working on their new record and getting ready to be touring here soon. I've got another side project with Philip. I'm playing drums and Philip's is playing guitar. Mike Williams from EYEHATEGOD is screamin' and it's called ARSON ANTHEM. So far we've got eight songs of it recorded. So we're still having fun and making music, just getting in there and jammin', man."


Apr. 6, 2006 - DIMEBAG's GASOLINE Side Project Featured On PUMPJACK DVD

Video footage of GASOLINE — the former metallic southern rock side project of late PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and his brother Vinnie Paul (drums), along with PUMPJACK frontman Thurber T. Mingus — is included on PUMPJACK's new DVD release "Drinkin' and Making Friends", which can be purchased via www.pumpjackjrocks.com. In addition to the GASOLINE footage, the disc includes PUMPJACK clips from the last eight years, including material shot at Ozzfest 2000.

GASOLINE made their first live appearance since Dimebag's death this past New Year's Eve at Hot Rods and Hoggs in Arlington, Texas. The band were joined by former PANTERA bassist Rex Brown for two PANTERA cuts: "Walk" and "Cowboys from Hell". The gig marked the first time Brown and Vinnie Paul had shared the same stage in almost five years. Watch video footage of the Hot Rods and Hoggs gig at this location.


Apr. 1, 2006 - VINNIE PAUL: New Audio Interview Posted Online

A seven-minute audio interview with former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul, conducted on March 14 by Jolene of Seattle's 99.9 KISW, has been posted online at this location...


Mar. 17, 2006 - PANTERA: VH1's 'Behind The Music' Special In Production

VH1 has officially begun and completed a production on a "Behind the Music" special on PANTERA.


Mar. 17, 2006 - DOWN To Enter Studio In September

DOWN — the acclaimed New Orleans band featuring COC guitarist/vocalist Pepper Keenan, drummer Jimmy Bower , bassist Rex Brown , guitarist Kirk Windstein , and vocalist Philip Anselmo — will begin work on new material shortly after returning home from their European summer tour and are tentatively planning on entering the studio in September to begin recording their third album.

Feb. 24, 2006 - DIMEBAG's Brother VINNIE PAUL: 'Nobody Knows The Pain I've Been Through'

Former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott spoke to Billboard.com this week about "Rebel Meets Rebel", the upcoming album featuring the Abbott brothers (Vinnie and the late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott) along with PANTERA bassist Rex Brown and country music outlaw David Allen Coe. The CD is due on May 2 via Vinnie's independent Big Vin Records.

"Some of the songs are about gambling, some of them are about broken hearts and some are about drinking," Abbott tells Billboard.com. "There's stuff on there that's balls-out metal, and there's stuff that's country. There's even a flamenco guitar song."

Abbott says that he and his brother had hoped to release the album after recording a second DAMAGEPLAN record. After the breakup of PANTERA and the launch of DAMAGEPLAN, Abbott says the two feared fans would be confused by another project.

Also on May 2, Big Vin will release "Dimevision Vol. 1", a DVD that collects behind-the-scenes footage of Dimebag. Abbott dismisses those who think he may be cashing in on his brother's legacy. "If the roles were reversed and I was gone, I would want him to be as gung-ho about this as I am," he says. "Anyone who says I'm cashing in can kiss my ass. Nobody knows the pain I've been through."


Feb. 22, 2006 - 'DimeVision': Tribute To DIMEBAG DVD Trailer Posted Online

A trailer for the upcoming "DimeVision - Vol 1: That's The Fun I Have" tribute DVD to late PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott ahs been made available for viewing online. Check it out: here. The disc, "which remembers and celebrates the life of my brother," according to ex-PANTERA drummer Vinnie Paul, will feature Dime's stellar guitar playing and offbeat brand of humor, and is sure to be a title every serious PANTERA fan will have to own. Check out the cover artwork at this location.

"DimeVision - Vol 1: That's The Fun I Have" is scheduled for release on May 2 via Vinnie Paul's Big Vin Records, which has secured a distribution deal via Fontana.


Jan. 27, 2006 - Ex-PANTERA Drummer VINNIE PAUL Launches Official Blog

Former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul has posted the following message on the official MySpace.com page of his record label, Big Vin Records:

"I'd like to thank all of you for comin' and checkin out my space. Things are lookin' great for 'Rebel Meets Rebel' and 'DimeVision' comin April 4th.

"I spent the last week doin' some serious travelin'. Stopped in [Las] Vegas for a few days and lost my ass for the first time in a while!!! Went and saw Carrot Top and he was fuckin' amazing. We went back and met him after the show and found out he was a big fan and we hit it off great.

"We were headed over to see one of my all-time favorites 'Amazing Jonathan' and he decided to join us. Well, Jonathan was off the hook as usual, and we all decided to go out for drinks and sushi. All I can say is if these guys could tell all the jokes they know to the public, we would never stop laughin'. Great fuckin' night.

"Flew to L.A. for meetings at my distributor Fontana. Lots of work on this side of the fence that I never knew about... Lots!!! Then to the annual NAMM convention where Pearl Drums unvieled my new signature snare drum. This drum has bite, so if you play drums, check it out. Two days of non-stop meeting people and signing autographs and photos... Wow, it gets bigger every year. All of Dime's endorsers were in rare form and he was well represented... especially at Dean Guitars. All I can say is thank you!!!!

"Went back to Vegas and kept asking myself what I was doin different that caused me to lose last time and it hit me.... Bingo... The times I win is when I play Two-Deck Blackjack... so I played Two-Deck and won all my money back!!! Yeah... So there is a lesson here, kids... Two-Deck Blackjack... play it and win. Flew home in time to entertain the Snocore tour at the Clubhouse and we blew the roof off the place.

"That's it for now... See ya at DISTURBED on the 2nd and stay tuned for my next blog!!!! What the fuck, 'blog'. They coulda came up with a better word than that!!!"

As previously reported, "DimeVision - Vol 1: That's The Fun I Have", a tribute DVD to late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, will be released on April 4 via Big Vin. The disc, "which remembers and celebrates the life of my brother," according to Vinnie, will feature Dime's stellar guitar playing and offbeat brand of humor, and is sure to be a title every serious PANTERA fan will have to own. Check out the cover artwork at this location. Also available on April 4 will be the self-titled debut CD from REBEL MEETS REBEL (cover) — the project featuring three of the founding members of PANTERA (Vinnie Paul, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and bassist Rex Brown) together with legendary country singer/outlaw David Allan Coe. Both products will be distributed through Fontana.



Jan. 25, 2006 - Classic PHILIP ANSELMO/MORBID ANGEL Video Posted Online

A classic live video of the then-PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo singing the MORBID ANGEL track "Day of Suffering" with the Floridian death metallers in early 2001 has been posted online at this location.

As previously reported, Anselmo underwent back surgery on Nov. 21, 2005 and is expected to spend the next few months recuperating at his home in Lousiana while continuing work on several musical projects, some of which may see the light of day later in the year.


Jan. 17, 2006 - DIMEBAG: Early Live Video Posted Online

A seven-minute video of PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott "shredding" on stage at the age of 18 (circa 1984-1985) has been posted online at this location.

As previously reported, Dimebag's REBEL MEETS REBEL project — which also features fellow founding members of PANTERA, Vinnie Paul (drums) and Rex Brown (bass), alongside legendary country singer/outlaw David Allan Coe — will see its long-awaited release in April via Vinnie's Big Vin label. The CD was recorded over a four-year period and is set to contain a total of 12 tracks, including "Nothin' To Lose", "Rebel Meets Rebel", "Cowboys", "Panfillo", "Heartworn Highway", "One Night Stand", "Arizona Rivers", "A Man With Nothin' Ain't Got Nothin' to Lose", "New York City Streets" and "Get Outta My Life".


Jan. 16, 2006 - VINNIE PAUL's GASOLINE: Video Clips Posted Online

Four short video of clips of former Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul's GASOLINE project performing at Hot Rods and Hoggs in Arlington, Texas this past New Year's Eve have been posted online. Check them out:

Clip#1 (Vinnie leading crowd into "Dimebag" and "Mayhem" chants)
Clip#2 (New Year's countdown)
Clip#3
Clip#4

GASOLINE were joined by former Pantera bassist Rex Brown for two Pantera cuts: "Walk" and "Cowboys from Hell". The gig marked the first time the two former bandmates had shared the same stage in almost five years. GASOLINE's lineup had previously included late Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and Pumpjack vocalist Thurber T. Mingus.


Jan. 12, 2006 - PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN Drummer VINNIE PAUL to Introduce Signature Snare At NAMM

Vinnie Paul of PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN will be attending the 2006 Winter NAMM show (National Association of Music Merchants), which runs between January 19 and January 22 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Paul will be appearing in the Pearl Drums booth at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 21. Vinnie will be there to introduce his new signature snare, which he designed with Pearl. This 14x8 six-ply maple snakeskin-covered, spike-tipped monster is said to be "every bit as badass as Vinnie could make it." He will also be promoting the new REBEL MEETS REBEL CD, due in April via his newly launched Big Vin label. This record features Paul alongside other ex-PANTERA members "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (guitar) and Rex Brown (bass) in a collaborative effort with country outlaw David Allan Coe.


Jan. 5, 2006 - Former PANTERA Drummer Seeks 'Talent' For BIG VIN RECORDS

Former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul is currently looking for "different and out-there talent" for his new record label, Big Vin Records. Bands can send submissions to:

BVR
420 E. Lamar, No. 212
Arlington, Texas 76011

As previously reported, Big Vin Records has secured a distribution deal via Fontana. The label's first release will be an album from REBEL MEETS REBEL, a unique crossover of country, metal and rock. It features three of the founding members of PANTERA (Vinnie Paul, Dimebag and bassist Rex Brown) together with legendary country singer/outlaw David Allan Coe. REBEL MEETS REBEL's CD was recorded over a four-year period and is set to contain a total of 12 tracks, including "Nothin' To Lose", "Rebel Meets Rebel", "Cowboys", "Panfillo", "Heartworn Highway", "One Night Stand", "Arizona Rivers", "A Man With Nothin' Ain't Got Nothin' to Lose", "New York City Streets" and "Get Outta My Life". The title track, "Rebel Meets Rebel", was previously said to be a duet with PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo, although it is not presently clear if Anselmo's contributions will make it to the final product. "Rebel Meets Rebel" is tentatively scheduled for release in May 2nd 2006.

The second project to be released via Big Vin will be a DVD, "Dimevision", as a tribute to Dimebag, one of metal's all-time guitar greats who is credited by some for creating the original concept which eventually became the MTV hit series "Jackass". "Dimevision" features Dime's stellar guitar playing and offbeat brand of humor, and is sure to be a title every serious PANTERA fan will have to own.


Jan. 1, 2006 - Ex-PANTERA Bandmates REX And VINNIE Play Together For First Time In Over Four Years

Former Pantera bassist Rex Brown performed with ex-Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul for the first time since 2001 at last night's (Dec. 31) GASOLINE gig at Hot Rods and Hoggs in Arlington, Texas. Rex joined Vinnie and the rest of the reactivated southern rock covers band for renditions of the Pantera classics "Walk" and "Cowboys from Hell". GASOLINE's lineup had previously included late Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott and PUMPJACK vocalist Thurber T. Mingus.



Dec 8th, 2005 - Vinnie speaks with Mtv news.


December 8 marks the one-year anniversary of one of the most grim and bizarre tragedies in music history — the onstage shooting death of Pantera and Damageplan guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. In the past year, friends and fans have talked at length about Dime's influence and spirit, but the man who knew him best — his brother and bandmate Vinnie Paul — has been largely silent. Recently, however, Vinnie sat down with MTV News' Robert Mancini for his first on-camera interview since losing his brother. He recalled a different side of a true metal giant, and helped to remember the talent and the kindness that was Dime as fans mark the anniversary of his death. Read the rest of the interview at MTV News.


Dec 8th, 2005 - Vinnie will jam again!

Vinnie will jam with Gasoline at Hot Rods And Hogs in Arlington, TX for a new Years bash on Sat., Dec 31. Click here for ticket information.


Dec 8th, 2005 - DIMEBAG's Family To Sue Columbus Club Over Deadly Shooting: Video Available

Kevin Landers of Columbus, Ohio's WBNS-10TV has issued the following report:
A lawsuit is now expected to be filed, one year after a shooting spree at a north Columbus bar.

December 8th, 2004, Nathan Gale jumped on stage at the Alrosa Villa nightclub on Sinclair Road and opened fire.

He killed four people before a police officer killed him.

Now the club's owner is the target of a civil lawsuit expected to be filed Thursday.

The attorney filing the suit told 10TV he intends to prove that if the nightclub's owner had hired trained security guards, innocent victims would be alive today.

A night of heavy metal music turned into a night of terror when Nathan Gale got onto the stage with a loaded gun and began firing.

Four people were killed, including Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott of the band DAMAGEPLAN. Abbott's family, along with two other people injured by flying bullets, are suing the bar's owner.

Details of the lawsuit, obtained by 10TV, blame a lack of security for the bloodshed. Among the allegations: security at the bar was inept. Security guards identified Gale as a trespasser hours before the concert and failed to intervene. Overall, security was lacking according to the lawsuit, which also noted the bar had no metal detectors.

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages in excess of $25,000. The Alrosa's owner was not available for comment Wednesday. In earlier interviews, Rick Cautela admitted his security force wasn't prepared to stop a man bent on killing.

"My security guards aren't supposed to stop a bullet. They get paid 10 to 12 dollars and hour. They aren't paid to take a bullet," Cautela told 10TV last June.

Watch the WBNS-10TV report at this location [NOTE: Video includes actual footage of the Dec. 8, 2004 shooting at the Alrosa Villa].


Dec 8, 2005 PHILIP ANSELMO's Back Surgery 'Went Well'

Former PANTERA/current SUPERJOINT RITUAL frontman Philip Anselmo's back surgery — which was originally slated for Nov. 8 and was then rescheduled for Nov. 21 — "went well," according to his SUPERJOINT bandmate Kevin Bond (guitar). Philip is expected to spend the next few months recuperating at his home in Lousiana while continuing work on several musical projects, some of which may see the light of day next year.

In an October 2005 interview with Revolver magazine, Anselmo spoke in detail about his back problem which has plagued him since the late 1990s.

"The lowest lumbar disc in my back was ruptured — shattered from being onstage since I was 14 years old, jumping off the stage, off Vinnie's drum set, going as crazy as possible," Anselmo said.

"So I asked my doctor, 'What can I do about this?' And he says, 'Well, you're going to have to wear a back brace,' which I've been wearing for 10 years now. . . Anybody who ever thought I had a beer gut or I was fat, I was holding my bones together. Then, after two, three more tours — another MRI. I got another damaged disc, and no cartilage between the bottom one and the next one, which meant bone-on-bone scraping and nerve damage, and so the painkillers got stronger, stronger, stronger just to get up on that goddamn stage and do what I do, man. I mean, I was born to do this and I've known it since I was 6 years old.

"Back in the Nineties, I went to see so many goddamn surgeons, and they all wanted to slice me open from the belly, take pieces of my hipbone out, take all my guts out, lay them on a table, and then fuse the discs from the front, use pieces of my hip to fill gaps in the bone and cartilage, then put all my guts back in, sew me up. I asked the doctor, 'Well, what's the recovery time for something like that?' And he's like, 'Oh, 10 months to a year, maybe a year and a half.' I'm like, 'No way. I gotta work, bro. We're going to Europe. We're doing Ozzfest. I cannot take a year off.' And then, on top of that, I had doctors ask me if I had been fitted for a wheelchair. That's how bad it was. And I never have let that out of the bag before. I said, 'A wheelchair?! I still jump off the damn drum riser, man.' And they're like, 'You're just going to screw yourself up.'

"And so eventually, I got put on the heaviest painkiller known to mankind — it's called methadone. Most people relate methadone to heroin, but I saved every bottle, every document — everything was for my back. And you know, it still hurt to be up there on stage, and when I woke up in the morning, it felt like an ice pick was shoved in my lower back, and the colder it got, the worse it got. And when you'd go to Europe in the middle of winter, it's like, man, I cannot do this without medicine.

"So I think people, especially journalists, took it upon themselves — and I really can't blame them, because I've never spilled these particular beans before. But I was slurring my words, I didn't have that glow anymore. It was killing my soul. You know, drugs, dope, everything you ever hear about them, it's true, man.
"So now, here we are in 2005 — medical science and neurology have come a very extreme distance. I have found an incredible doctor. He has put me through rigorous tests. They've given me my sixth MRI and nuclear testing where they make all your bones glow. [Laughs] And the worst of all was the last one. It's called the discogram — they allow no medication, no relaxants at all, and the whole purpose of the procedure is to duplicate the pain that you feel.

"So, at that point in time, I was slowly coming off this poison called methodone, which ruined my life, and another pill, which anybody who takes it is out of their mind. It's [a muscle relaxant] called Soma. That's what makes you sound like you're on the biggest amount of dope in the world — it makes you retarded, and I hated it. And so I want to apologize to all of my fans. I just wanted to play for you guys, man. And I think an apology is due for all my close friends and family, who had to endure what they didn't understand. And Dimebag, Vinnie Paul, Rex — they didn't understand the pain I was going through and the medicines and all of that. I apologize — so much. I'm not making excuses, but living with chronic pain makes you antisocial, depressed, not yourself. It changes your life, and it did mine, and now I want it back.

"And so, next month, on November [21]], I'm going under the knife, and I'm getting this motherfucker fixed finally, and I will walk through walls again, and I will punch through bricks, and I will rise again. Mark my goddamn words."



Nov 8, 2005 - Philip Anselmo rumored to have Back surgery.

According to Dez Devildriver, Phil is having back surgery today. With thissurgery there is always a 50/50 chance that he may not walk again, or that he may be back in full force. Lets hope for the later! Good luck Philip...

Oct. 7, 2005 - DISTURBED Frontman Says DIMEBAG's Death Was The '9/11 Of Rock'

DISTURBED frontman David Draiman recently spoke to RollingStone.com about the group's decision to dedicate their new album, "Ten Thousand Fists", to a friend, former PANTERA guitarist Dimebag Darrell, who was shot by a deranged fan in December. "There are certain tracks on this record that became attached to his memory," Draiman said. "The day [Darrell died] was the 9/11 of rock. A little of us died that day, too."

Sep. 28, 2005 - NICKELBACK's DIMEBAG Tribute Track Posted Online

NICKELBACK's track "Side of a Bullet", which features a previously unheard guitar solo from late PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, has been posted online at VH1.com.

"Side of a Bullet", which was written by NICKELBACK frontman Chad Kroeger as a tribute to his fallen friend, comes off NICKELBACK's upcoming album, "All the Right Reasons", due on October 4 via Roadrunner Records. Kroeger initially wanted Abbott's brother, PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul, to play drums on the track, but Paul didn't think he could improve on NICKELBACK drummer Daniel Adair's take. Kroeger told Launch that Paul put another idea in motion instead. "Darrell's wife, Rita, got in touch with us and just started sending us all this stuff, like, him playing so many different solos, and we pieced this solo together and it fits the song so well," Chad said. "And it's kind of spooky to be singing about him, you know, your friend who's gone, and then have him play this shredding, amazing guitar solo."

Kroeger roars in the song's chorus: "How could you take his life away (What made you think you had the right?)/ How could you be so full of hate (To take away somebody's life?)/ When I heard you let him die and leave the world, I wondered why/ I sat and home and on my own, I cried alone and scratched your name in the side of a bullet."

"Side of a Bullet" was written three months after Abbott was shot to death by a disturbed gunman during a December 8, 2004 DAMAGEPLAN concert in Columbus, Ohio. Kroeger told Launch how he felt when he heard about Abbott's death and how he's dealt with it since. "I was very, very upset and really angry," he said. "I couldn't understand why somebody would do that. I stay in touch, I call Vinnie and just try and keep his mind off of things. It's nice to let him know that he could just call you up and talk about anything — it doesn't have to be about Darrell — and just be there for him."


Sep. 20, 2005 - VINNIE PAUL: I Will Never Be At Peace With What Happened To DIMEBAG

The December 2005 issue of Guitar World magazine (web site) contains an exclusive, in-depth interview with former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott. In the 10-page cover story (view cover here), Vinnie speaks for the first time about Dimebag's murder, the possibility of a PANTERA reunion prior to Dimebag's death, Vinnie's future plans as a musician, and his favorite memories of Dimebag, among many other topics. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

Guitar World: Dime had a reputation for hard living and hard drinking, but what's less known is that he had a serious side and could be remarkably focused. What are some instances in which you saw this side of him?

Vinnie Paul: "Throughout his career, he was always really focused on everything. Toward the end, about a year before all this happened, he really started to develop the business side of himself. He was so proud of his new line of guitars with Dean Guitars and his new amp with Krank Amplification. He probably took that stuff more seriously than anything. He didn't want his name on a piece of shit. He wanted it to be on something that was special, so when somebody got it, they went, 'Wow, this is the best guitar I've ever picked up,' or this is the most kick-ass sounding amp I've ever played.' Dime was all over it with both companies, and that was something I was so proud of him for.

"Some people have this misconception that the dude was loaded 24/7, but he wasn't. He'd do it when he felt like he needed to do it, and then he would back off for two or three days. In truth, we never really did that much drinking before we went onstage. We'd do two or three shots, just enough to get loosened up, and then mayne a couple more while we were playing. It was when we were done playing, after we'd kick everybody's fucking ass and given them everything they came for, that's when the booze would really start to flow. That's when it was time to take the roof off the fucking place."

Guitar World: In 1996, PANTERA released their darkest and most underrated album, "The Great Southern Trendkill". What's the story behind that album?

Vinnie Paul: "That was the most difficult record we ever made. We weren't falling apart, but the band was starting to go in different directions. Philip [Anselmo, PANTERA vocalist] had some well-publicized personal issues, and that made for a really dark record. At the same time, LIMP BIZKIT was blowing up and rap metal was coming in. There was a whole new scene, and people were like, 'What's PANTERA gonna do? Are they gonna do rap metal, too?' We just wanted to make the ultimate, abrasive album the industry's ever gotten. That was our response. It was the first record we made that declined in sales, but it's a platinum record today, so you can't say it wasn't successful. When it came out then, it was probably our most misunderstood record, but today I see posts on the Internet all the time saying, ''Trendkill' is my favorite album. Goddamn, that record broke the mold.' Well, too bad it took you nine fucking years to realize what we were trying to accomplish at the time! [laughs]"

Guitar World: Tell me about "Reinventing the Steel", which turned out to be the final PANTERA album.

Vinnie Paul: "I think that, next to 'Vulgar', that's probably the best record we made. By the time we made it, in 2000, everything had totally changed and music was — and still is — in a total shambles. So we wanted to make a straightforward, anthemic metal record. We wanted to keep the songs as fresh as we could, with old-school roots and new-school traits, and I think we did a really good job on it. I mean, 'Revolution Is My Name' is probably one of the best songs we ever wrote. The guitar riffs and parts Dime came up with are fucking phenomenal. There's probably five songs in that one song!"

Guitar World: PANTERA's breakup was instigated in part by the events of 9/11. Explain what happened.

Vinnie Paul: "That was pretty insane. We flew to Ireland out of JFK [International Airport] just 10 to 12 hours before that happened, man. We landed, got off the plane and people had all these terrible looks on their faces and we didn't know what the hell was going on. We just got this really weird vibe. We just felt that the best thing for us to do was cancel our European Tattoo the Earth tour with SLAYER and go home. We didn't know who was going to get attacked next. We were stranded there for, like, 10 days, and when we finally got back to Dallas, we just said, 'Hey, let's take a little break from this.' "

Guitar World: A lot of people in the metal community had been hoping PANTERA would get back together one day.

Vinnie Paul: "Let's make this clear once and for all: for any fan out there that believed any of the bullshit said by certain people, there never was going to be a PANTERA reunion, ever. If you were married to somebody for 15 or 16 years and they treated you the way we got treated, you don't go back to them, and we weren't going to do that. When we put DAMAGEPLAN together, we were done with PANTERA, but we wanted to respect the fans that loved the band. We felt as bad for them as we felt for ourselves, but we had nothing to do with it going sideways, and we gave every effort we could to keep it together."

Guitar World: Dime always insisted that DAMAGEPLAN was the real deal and not just a side project.

Vinnie Paul: "Damn straight. It was hard to let go of PANTERA and say, 'That's it. I'm done with this. I'm moving on.' Shit, that was the only life we'd ever known. After suffering what I call the defeat of PANTERA, being knocked down to nothing and having to get back up and go again when you're not 19 or 20 years old is one hell of a fucking effort, and me and Dime put everything into DAMAGEPLAN. And trust me, it took everything we had, and we dug as deep as we could. We were going for it and nothing was gonna stop us from getting there. It was just like in the early days.

"Before all of this happened, we'd already written and recorded for the second DAMAGEPLAN record. From where I stood, it looked to me like our first record, 'New Found Power', was our 'Cowboys from Hell', and the second record was gonna be our 'Vulgar Display of Power' — the record that pushed us over the top and put us on the same plateau as PANTERA. And that's what people wanted from us. Our record label was 100 percent behind us, but unfortunately we never got to see the light at the end of the tunnel, because of what happened."

Guitar World: Will those DAMAGEPLAN demos ever see the light of day?

Vinnie Paul: "Right now I'm still too flipped out to even go in the studio. I've been down there a time or two and it just wigs me completely out. But I guarantee you at some point I will do something with those tracks. Either I'll have some of Dime's favorite singers sing on 'em and turn them into jams, or maybe Pat [Lachman, DAMAGEPLAN vocalist] will sing on them and it'll be 'Damageplan II'. I don't know yet. Right now they're magic that hopefully someday everybody will get to hear, and as long I'm around, I think eventually they will get heard."

Guitar World: What else can you tell us about the night Dime was killed?

Vinnie Paul: "All I want to say right now is that things like this happen to people and sometimes, after six or eight months go by, people begin to talk and they learn more about what happened. I have a hard time believing that some nut-job just shot the best friend that I ever had for no reason. So I'd like to spread the message to anybody out there, that if you know or hear anything about it, please contact the authorities and let 'em know what you know. I just believe that there's something else out there that motivated this guy to do this. And if there is, I hope they get to the bottom of it, 'cause it's something that should've never, ever happened. It's ruined my life and it's taken away so much joy and happiness from so many people. I guess what I'm trying to find is an answer for why this happened. There has to be an answer somewhere, and I hope it comes out someday. I'll leave it at that.

"We also lost another great brother and a great friend, Mayhem [Jeffrey Thompson, bodyguard], that night. He and Dime were really close, and I know wherever they are they're together still. Also I want to send my condolences and heartfelt sorrow to the families and friends of the other two victims, Nathan Bray and Erin Halk.

"I know that Dime will live on forever, though, just like Jimi Hendrix and Randy Rhoads. It just happened way too goddamned soon. The music we made together will be around forever, but the thing that kills me is that we'll never get to do it again. We had so much more that we were gonna put out, and I know that, wherever he is, Dime's real dissatisfied that he didn't get to finish his mission."

Guitar World: Do you know what you plan to do next as a musician?

Vinnie Paul: "I've got to find the right situation. I'm not going to jump into anything, though, because I'm only just now getting to where I can wake up in the morning and just fucking breathe without having a million thoughts going through my mind. By no means will I ever be at peace with what happened, but at least I'm getting to where I can deal with it."


Sep. 15, 2005 - Police Officer Who Took Out DIMEBAG's Killer Receives National Honor

NBC 4 is reporting that Columbus Police Officer James D. Niggemeyer, who is widely credited for saving lives on Dec. 8, 2004 when he entered Alrosa Villa without backup and killed a crazed gunman responsible for blowing away four people, including PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, is receiving a national honor.

Niggemeyer received honorable mention in Parade magazine's 2005 Police Service Awards. His story will appear in Sunday's edition.


Sep. 1, 2005 - 'DIMEBAG' DARRELL: Italian Tribute Album Available For Free Download

A 14-song Italian tribute to late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, entitled "This Love - A Tribute to Dimebag", has been made available for free download at www.moshpitculture.it. The complete track listing for the effort is as follows:

01. BY THE GRIEF - "Strength Beyond Strength"
02. ATOMIC ANTS - "Mouth For War"
03. SHELTER OF LEECH - "5 Minute Alone"
04. ELEKTRIK[H]ATE - "Cowboys From Hell"
05. HAPAX - "Walk"
06. DAY1DAY - "Cemetary Gates"
07. SOWN - "Suicide Note (Southern Version)"
08. ADDICTION CREW - "This Love"
09. SHATTERED - "War Nerve"
10. REMORSE - "Domination"
11. IMODIUM - "Rise"
12. SUFFERHEAD - "Fucking Hostile"
13. ORIENT EXPRESS - "Planet Caravan"
14. EVILGROOVE - "Suicide Note (Lysergik Version)"


Sep. 1, 2005 - DIMEBAG's Guitar Enshrined At San Antonio's Hard Rock Cafe

Hector Saldaña of the San Antonio Express-News has issued the following report:

For heavy metal fans, the violent death of PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott in Dec. 2004, ranks among rock's greatest communal losses: Buddy Holly, John Lennon and Kurt Cobain.

But if "Dimebag's" murder at a Columbus, Ohio concert marks the day the metal music died, his rowdy spirit lives on as was evident at Hard Rock Cafe on Wednesday (Aug. 31).

Abbott's live-in girlfriend, Rita Haney, and his brother and band mate, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, were on hand (photo) to unveil an electric guitar belonging to the murdered guitarist, among new memorabilia items installed at the restaurant.

About 150 fans clamored near the Hard Rock stage for the afternoon presentation to make a connection that even they couldn't always quite explain. "Dime," as he was known, was a different kind of rock god — accessible and down-to-earth.

"I had to be here," said Rocky Rios, 22. "He was so ... cool. At a thing like this, he'd just shake your hand."

Jessica Martin, 23, and Elliot Henry, 22, arrived together wearing PANTERA T-shirts. "I'm here pretty much in tribute to him, just to show respect," Martin said.

"He's just everything to me," said Henry, who plays guitar. "I've listened to him since I was 9. The reason I love music is because of him."

In the crowd, musician-artist Jered Keller, 22, held one of his framed drawings autographed by members of DAMAGEPLAN, including "Dimebag." Keller described the moment he showed him the drawing in spring 2004.

"Dimebag ... was all, 'Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!' He's the only one that made you feel like the fan was the real rock star," said Keller, drummer for a metal trio called the KGB.

Hard Rock waitress Shannon Swearingen, 23, even took the evening shift Wednesday so she "could be here for all this." And that was for a chance to hang out with metal legend Vinnie Paul Abbott. Cheers of "we love you, Vinnie" and "cowboys from hell" went up when he arrived.

"This ensures my brother's legacy lives forever," Abbott said, as the Washburn guitar was unveiled near the stage. "The man is shining on. The magic fingers have graced that guitar."

Haney said she was glad the guitar "ended up in such a cool place." She's helping produce a "Dimebag" Darrell tribute DVD due in Dec. 2005. "He was one of the most approachable people," Haney said. "It makes me feel good to feel the love."


Aug. 25, 2005 - VINNIE PAUL Comments On BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's DIMEBAG Tribute Video

Former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul recently commented on BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's "In This River" video. The moving tribute to the guitar legend "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, who would have celebrated his 39th birthday on Saturday, August 20, was directed by Eric Zimmerman and is the new single from BLACK LABEL SOCIETY's Artemis Records debut, "Mafia". Frontman Zakk Wylde, primarily known for his stunning guitar prowess, is featured in a rare appearance at the piano.

Commented Vinnie Paul in an Artemis press release: "I'm really glad Zakk dedicated his latest video to the memory of Dime. I remember the night Zakk played it for me on his bus. It's very hard when you lose a best friend, mentor, idol, companion or brother like Dime, and this video captures the emotion and pain that we all feel. As Dime always said, 'It's the highs and lows of rock and roll and you gotta keep on keepin' on.' Great job, Zakk!"

The video has been added to MTV2's "Headbanger's Ball", Fuse's "Uranium" and "Metal Asylum". "In This River" went for adds at both Active and Mainstream Rock formats August 23. Numerous stations have added the single early, including the huge WRIF/Detroit and WCCC/Hartford.


Aug. 18, 2005 - Previously Unreleased DIMEBAG Solo To Appear On New NICKELBACK Album

Jon Wiederhorn of MTV.com is reporting that a previously unreleased solo by late PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN guitarist Dimebag Darrell will appear this fall in an unlikely place: on NICKELBACK's new album, "All the Right Reasons". The guitar parts for the flailing, 24-second lead were donated by Darrell's brother, drummer Vinnie Paul, and assembled from outtakes from the PANTERA albums "Vulgar Display of Power" and "Far Beyond Driven".

The song, a tribute to Darrell titled "Side of a Bullet", was written three months after the guitarist was killed while performing onstage with DAMAGEPLAN in Columbus, Ohio. NICKELBACK mainman Chad Kroeger first penned the song's aggressive, metallic riff, then wrote call-and-response lyrics from the perspective of a PANTERA fan so enraged over Dimebag's murder that he vows revenge, not realizing the shooter had already been killed by a policeman.

"I was very upset, and for two months, if I saw his picture somewhere I would get angry," Kroeger told MTV.com. "I hadn't lost somebody to a shooting before — it wasn't as though he'd been killed in some sort of accident. He was taken in such a horrible, malicious way that just made it more painful."

Once Kroeger finished demoing "Side of a Bullet", he called up Paul and played it to him to get his take on the tune. Paul liked what he heard and urged Kroeger to write lyrics about Dime. "I said, 'Well, funny enough, that song is about your brother,' " Kroeger recalled.

Paul volunteered to play on the song, so Kroeger overnighted him the tape and encouraged him to record a new drum track over the one played by NICKELBACK drummer Daniel Adair. "He thought about it for a while," Kroeger said, "then he decided that Daniel had done such an amazing job that we should leave it the way it was. That's when he sent the guitar parts from 'Vulgar Display of Power' and 'Far Beyond Driven', which we used for the solo."


Aug. 16, 2005 - PHILIP ANSELMO Performs With EYEHATEGOD At NYC's Legendary CBGB's

Former PANTERA and current SUPERJOINT RITUAL/DOWN frontman Philip Anselmo filled in on guitar for EYEHATEGOD last night (August 15) at the infamous CBGB club in New York City. It was Anselmo's first public appearance since the murder of "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN) and Philip appeared to be "healthy, upbeat, and in a great mood," according to a BLABBERMOUTH.NET visitor who attended the gig. "He was mingling with the crowd and very outgoing. It was a historic show."

As previously reported, EYEHATEGOD/SUPERJOINT RITUAL guitarist and DOWN drummer Jimmy Bower recently told Metal Maniacs magazine that he is "sure we'll do another DOWN record. I've talked to Phil and everybody else. Everybody's expressed interest in wanting to do a DOWN record, so that's basically all it takes. Hopefully within the next year or two that can happen. DOWN records are fun. Phil's doing a lot better as far as handling [Dimebag's death]. It's been a big wake-up call for a lot of people over the the last five, six months. People are doing cool things with their lives; cool, positive things. Let's save metal!"
See the pictures here


July 7th, 2005 - Zakk Wylde's Tribute to Dimebag

This is a great video of "In this River" by Zakk Wylde, which is also a tribute to Dimebag.
Watch it here


July 7th, 2005 - Pantera, White Zombie, and Ministry Featured On 'Whatever: The '90s Pop Culture Box' Collection

PANTERA
, WHITE ZOMBIE, MINISTRY and HELMET are among the bands featured on the box set "Whatever: The '90s Pop Culture Box", due July 26 from Rhino, according to Billboard.com. "Whatever: The '90s Pop Culture Box" will span seven discs with 130 songs that collectively defined the commercial modern rock scene or hit high points on pop and rap charts.

The box — which will be adorned with a bag of coffee beans and a thermal wrap sporting faux corporate logos — will include an 84-page book with 1990s timeline, track-by-track commentary and photographs to put the music in context. Music critics Jim DeRogatis and Joel Stein contribute essays to the book, which also includes an interview with Sub Pop president/co-founder Jonathan Poneman.

To view the complete track listing for "Whatever: The '90s Pop Culture Box", go to Billboard.com.


April 7th, 2005 - The Dimebag Video Interviews

These are two great video interviews from Dean guitars. Check them out here


Mar. 28, 2005 - DAMAGEPLAN/PANTERA: Unreleased Recordings, Video Footage To See Light Of Day

According to a recent online posting by DISTURBED drummer Mike Wengren, several DAMAGEPLAN- and PANTERA-related products are currently being planned for future release. Among the items that will reportedly see the light of day — either individually or as part of a box set — are the following:

*DAMAGEPLAN DVD "Damagevision"
*DAMAGEPLAN second album
*DAMAGEPLAN "New Found Power" outtakes
*PANTERA Home DVD Part 4
*PANTERA - Unreleased studio tracks from:
"Cowboys From Hell"
"Vulgar Display of Power"
"Far Beyond Driven"
"Great Southern Trendkill"
"Reinventing the Steel"
-THE TRACKS FROM PANTERA'S NEXT STUDIO PROJECT AFTER REINVENTING THE STEEL WITH PHILIP ANSELMO (About 30 unreleased Pantera tracks total recorded from the CFH days until right before the band broke up)

*REBEL MEETS REBEL (Dimebag and Vinnie Paul's side project with legendary country/western music artist David Allen Coe)

It should be noted, however, that — with the exception of a second DAMAGEPLAN studio album (consisting of recordings originally meant to be used towards the band's follow-up to "New Found Power") — there has not yet been any confirmation from the PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN camp that the above-mentioned recordings will ever be made available to the public.

In other news, Krank Amplification has a section on their web site dedicated to "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, featuring exclusive photos and video footage of the late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist. Check it out here.



March 15, 2005 - Dimebag Action Figure to be created

KnuckleBonz, Inc. announced today their plans to create a Dimebag Darrell sculpture for the Guitar Hero limited edition collectible figure series.

The Guitar Hero series is a collection of rock's most highly praised guitarists, sculpted in great detail and cast in poly-resin. The series is designed to be a tribute to acclaimed guitarists who have made their indelible mark on music history. All figures in the series are officially licensed.

"He's pure, raw energy! Even now… and we want to make sure Dime shines forever louder, even more than before. He gave us all so much!" says Rita Haney, longtime girlfriend of the late Dimebag Darrell Abbott. "It's important that Dime be remembered in a way that his fans will appreciate. We feel this sculpture is a fitting way to remember his talent, his character, and his accomplishments."

The Dimebag sculpture will display the legend with his "Dean from Hell" Dean guitar. Each figure is hand-painted/numbered and displays a certificate of authenticity on the base of the sculpture. The Dimebag Darrell figure is only offered in a limited edition quantity of 3333 worldwide.

The KnuckleBonz artistic team is striving to capture the artist's likeness and his spirit through the medium of sculpture. Since the beginning of the series, requests from collectors worldwide have poured in for a Dimebag Guitar Hero.

"We are incredibly honored to be working with the family to create a meaningful tribute to Dimebag," states Tony Simerman, President and Creative Director of KnuckleBonz, Inc. "Like most of Dime's fans, I was introduced to his playing on 'Cowboys from Hell'. It started there, but I still say the 'power groove' on 'Vulgar Display of Power' is the most perfect metal since the first six SABBATH albums."

"When we first discussed the project with the family, they were pleased to know that the KnuckleBonz crew had a production meeting in late November of last year and determined Darrell was the best choice to be the 4th figure in the Guitar Hero series," says Simerman. "It was simply a matter of finding the best way to approach Dime. As we now know, that was just two weeks before his death. We recognize that this project is both an honor and a big responsibility."

Scheduled for release in fall 2005, the Dimebag sculpture will be available for pre-order in April 2005. The sculpture is currently in pre-production using highly skilled artists to capture a remarkable likeness of the celebrated guitarist.

Pricing and Availability: The Dimebag Darrell Guitar Hero limited edition sculpture will sell for $99 and can be purchased via www.guitarhero.net. Pre-orders will be accepted in April 2005. See the company's website for further details on pre-ordering and shipping information. Customers can subscribe to our email list to get more product information and exact dates for pre-orders and product availability by emailing info@guitarhero.net.



Feb 28, 2005 - Phil has a new project in the works

In an interview with SMNnews.com conducted last Thursday (Feb. 24), CROWBAR frontman Kirk Windstein was asked about the current whereabouts of his DOWN bandmate and SUPERJOINT RITUAL/ex-PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo following the recent death of ex-PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott. An excerpt from the interview follows:

SMNnews.com: If you don't mind me asking, how is Phil doing?

Kirk Windstein: "Doin' actually very good! I've talked with him more, he's been callin'. He's got a new project called BODY IN BLOOD. I spoke to him more since the Dime thing. He's putting together this BODY IN BLOOD thing and I kinda dabble with him a little bit. It's all his songs, I wrote like one. Sid Montz plays drums on it and I might try to get with them and play guitar. He plays acoustic and I'll play electric."

SMNnews.com: What's it like?

Kirk Windstein: "It's super fuckin' ambient, super mellow, real breathy, real melodic, real eerie, real dark. Every song is like, completely, all acoustic, clean electric, pretty laid back, great songs. He's got himself together physically, which is very good! His biggest thing is, he even told me, when you're doin' these interviews, if people ask, he wants everyone to know how difficult it is for him because of the way things went down with the press and everything else and all that. And he said, it's difficult for him 'cos he can't have any closure he wasn't able to mend everything with Dime and Vinnie before it happened. He said in a couple more years they would have gotten in a room together, fight it out or whatever, makeup, make a PANTERA record and fuckin' reunion tour and everything would be cool. It was just one of those things where the timing of it was so bad because of all the press shit that was goin' on and all and the poor dude passes away he just felt that he had no closure."




March 2005 covers of Revolver and Guitar World



Jan 14, 2005 - New Damageplan Recordings May Surface

Although Damageplan may be finished as a touring entity in the wake of last month's on-stage murder of guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, the group's manager says another release is likely. Damageplan's lone album was its 2003 Elektra debut, "New Found Power."

"There were recordings the band laid down prior to Dimebag's death that are near completion," manager Paul Bassman tells Billboard in his first interview since the incident. "[Drummer/Abbott's brother] Vinnie Paul has said there will be a follow-up album down the road, as Dime would have wanted his music to be heard."

Bassman adds, "The outpouring of kind thoughts, sadness and condolences have meant so much to all of us. On behalf of all the families impacted by this horrible tragedy, let me share a public acknowledgement of our gratitude."

Abbott was shot to death by disgruntled fan Nathan Gale during a Dec. 8 performance at Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio. Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson, who handled road security for the band, was also shot and killed, as was Erin Halk, who worked at Alrosa Villa in a security role. The band's drum tech, John "Kat" Brooks, and tour manager, Chris Paluska, are still recovering from gunshot wounds.

"How this man got onstage without encountering security is the most puzzling question," Bassman says.

"All clubs should be prepared for whatever presents itself to protect any artist they have contracted to perform on their stage," he continues. "In this particular case it may or may not have helped, but it certainly would not have hurt. Hopefully, a tragedy such as this will never be repeated."



Dec. 28, 2004 - PHILIP ANSELMO's Videotaped Statement About DIMEBAG's Murder Posted Online

Former PANTERA frontman Philip Anselmo's videotaped statement about the murder of bandmate "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, with whom he had feuded in the press in recent years, has been uploaded at the web site of Fuse's "Uranium". Watch the four-minute, 17-second clip at this location (Windows Media). A transcript of Anselmo's statement follows:

"People want my reaction to what happened.

"This is not about me. This is about Dimebag Darrell — purely Darrell. It's not about me or some motherfucking psycho that happened to destroy the most beautiful fucking person — one of my best friends in the world.

"It was the heavy metal goddamn media that destroyed PANTERA.

"This is about Darrell, my brother of 17 years, who... PANTERA's music changed people's lives, man. We weren't just some band. He was NOT just some guitar player.

"I wanna say... Bless his family and all of his close friends. And I never got a chance to say goodbye in the right way, and it kills me. And I'm so sorry. I wish to God I could have gone to his funeral, but I have to respect his family's wishes, and they do not want me there. I believe I belong there, but I understand completely.

"I'm so sorry to his bandmembers. I'm so sorry to the whole fucking world that loved Dimebag Darrell. Because let me tell you something: there was not one motherfucker like him.

"I'm so sorry to his family and everyone else who was just senselessly killed in Columbus, Ohio. It's a town I love. That's a town I've played a hundred times, goddamn it. I love that town. That's where Dimebag Darrell got killed.

"This is very unique for me, and that's all I know. Just bless his family, bless his friends. I love him like a brother loves a brother. Vinnie Paul, my other brother, I'm so sorry, I'm SO sorry.

"To The Kat [John Brooks, DAMAGEPLAN's drum tech], who was shot twice. I would have taken a bullet for you, brother — mark my words. Because I love you. And I love ALL of you.

"What is this world coming to?

"This has changed the world. I hope you all realize that now. This has changed the entire world. And this is the last you'll be seeing of me for a long time. I hope you're happy, heavy metal music magazines, media — I hope you're happy."