This ones for Dimebag Darrell Abbott- RIP Damageplan/Pantera one year ago today

EDITED 11/30/09-"Your trust is in Whiskey, Weed and Slayer"-PANTERA- It was one year ago today I heard the awful news of Darrell Lance (DIMEBAG) Abbott's, (Pantera/Damageplan) tragic murder in Columbus, Ohio. I had just woken up, turned on the god awful local radio stations... The radio announcer from WDST (Woodstock, NY) announced that a tragic incident had happened at a Damageplan show (featuring Vinnie Paul Abbott and Dime Bag Darrell Abbott, brothers and former members of disbanded Pantera) in Columbus, Ohio. The radio announcer had said a few people were shot, and then the announcer said Dimebag was shot and to log on to Blabbermouth.net.... I then turned OFF the radio, in total denial..I usually don't believe anything that local radio announcers say, because they are usually full of SHIT, and paid to talk shit.
I got dressed, and I walked to the store for cigarettes and chow..I was humming Pantera tunes to myself, "Walk", "A New Level" as if to will Dimebag back to life..I was thinking to myself, "Maybe something horrid happened at a Damageplan show, maybe someone got shot, but NOT to put Dimebag's life over concert attendees, but NOTHING happened to Dimebag right?
I even remember going to therapy that day, asking my therapist what had happened at that Damageplan show... Did someone have beef with our fellow metal head Dimebag? WHY? Why would someone do that to Darrel Abbott?
I got home and logged online, and before I could even get onto to Blabbermouth.net. the horrible news of Dimebag's death was reported on AOL News... I sat there shocked, then I logged on to Blabbermouth.net. and shook my head and said.."This is true, and this is horrible"..I went into the AOL metal chat and kids were freaking out while the elitist metal heads didn't know what to say.. ... I stated in the AOL metal chat it doesn't even matter if you're a PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN fan, it's almost irrelevant considering the circumstances.. Why is it that people are so OBSESSIVE about musicians, people in leadership positions, entertainers, athletes that they live vicariously through them not defining there identity independently?.... Do fans think they "own" these people in leadership positions.....Why is it that us Americans are so obsessed with weapons that we shoot any one whom we have a conflict with? Why isn't there tighter security, including metal detectors, magic wands at concerts, clubs, sporting events and mass gatherings? WHY?
I'm 35 and I'm not a kid anymore. I went to high school two blocks from where John Lennon (Beatles) was murdered at the Dakota in Manhattan, NYC 1980..My grade school teacher had to explain what went down that night between John Lennon and random wingnut Mark David Chapman..I was so young, I didn't understand the dark side of human psychology/pathology at 9 years old... Now, I DO understand although I don't agree about the psychology of socio and psychopaths..It IS important to get help.... Strawberry Fields across the street from the Dakota (in Central Park) is dedicated to the memory of John Lennon whom was murdered on this date on December 8th, 1980..Ironically.24 years to the date of John Lennon's tragic murder, Dimebag Darrell Abbott of Pantera/Damageplan was murdered onstage in an unrelated tragic incident.

What happened at that Damageplan show a year ago today? A former Marine, Nathan Gale whom was mentally disturbed and obsessed with the metal band PANTERA, scaled a fence armed with a machine gun and 50 rounds of ammunition..Gale walked on stage (through a unguarded stage door) and shot Damageplan's guitarist, Dimebag Darrell Abbott and members of Damageplan's crew and many fans. A great sharp shooting cop on a will and instinct walked into the back door of the club as Gale held a gun to the head of a hostage. The cop shot Nathan Gale in the head, killing him and ending the crisis.. By then, a few people, including "DimeBag" Darrrell Abbot (Pantera/Damageplan) were tragically murdered, many of whom were trying to help out in that tragic crisis.
BTW, Nathan Gale had NO relationship with either PANTERA or DAMAGEPLAN..Not AT ALL..... So Gales murder of Dimebag is not an issue of personal/ musical betrayal or vengeance.... Not that the act of murder would justify those intense emotions.... Gale's murder of Dimebag was not provoked but pre meditated... Despite Gales insistent behavior once stating that he "wrote" Panteras lyrics and Pantera "stole" his lyrics, the conflict was in Gales head as his delusions got the best of him... I would not dignify Nathan Gales existence by calling him a PANTERA fan (or Damageplan fan) even if he once enjoyed their music... Gale was clearly INSANE and out to murder Dimebag Darrell Abbott and not at the show to mosh, enjoy the music and meet people..
Dimebag's murder was clearly the act of a psychopath ( Nathan Gale was psychologically disturbed) as random as it was..
Metal horns \m/ to officer James N. for ending the crisis (at the Damageplan show) wich could have resulted in more dead... Nathan Gale was mentally ill, delusional and obsessed with Pantera and the bands 2003 breakup as Gale went on a violent shooting spree..Gale was previously discharged from the military and given orders to see a shrink... Very tragic story..
So pleease, check your head, don't be so obsessive about anyone, and no one owes nobody anything. Don't bring weapons to any concert, club, or mass gathering. Just bring a smile and a good attitude, and have a good time, and if you're not having a good time, then leave, so others can enjoy themselves, and so others can live..Check your EGO's, weapons and check your head....That goes for all of you, and all of US, in all circumstances.
Don't believe what you read in the metal tabloids about PANTERA's breakup. Those guys in PANTERA might have their differences, but alot gets taken out of context in the press (pandering to the lowest common denominator of tabloid press to make a profit) and Phil Anselmo is pretty torn up about Dimebag's death...It doesn't matter what was said in the press, those guys in PANTERA are brothers whom had the best times of their lives together and loved one another... Pantera have toured the world ten times over, and they wouldn't want anything BAD to happen to former and current band mates, friends, family and YES YOU the fans....
BTW, I've seen PANTERA quite a few times and I've had some great times at their shows. Fans have jumped from the lower tiers of Giants Staduim (NJ-OZZFEST) to mosh in the pit while Phil Anselmo yelled, "Get back in your seats!"..I've seen Pantera with Slayer and Fear Factory where there was literally a sick ass pit, with no where to run or hide...Every time I've seen PANTERA I've had a GREAT time, full floor pits everywhere, the smell of weed and beer..Phil Anselmo once explained that despite what the guys in the suits say, metal isn't dead, as he brought some of the best underground extreme metal acts on tour with him including the mighty MORBID ANGEL..Phil Anselmo IS into black and death metal.. I remember when I was a college radio DJ (WFNP 88.7FM-New Paltz, NY ) someone showed me the cover of PANTERA's very first album "Power Metal"..Umm, those guys in PANTERA put a hole in the ozone layer as they were sporting big hair ala hairspray and braces.. They were so young back then..
Pantera cut their hair, and changed their image to almost redneck, confederate flag waving, whiskey drinking, Southern thrashers..From there on in, I don't care how elitist of a metal head you are, PANTERA had the world headbanging......
Sure they were cries that PANTERA were an EXHORDER clone (NOLA thrash metal) but a band with one guitarist (Dimebag) never sounded better and PANTERA and EXHORDER made peace with the musical comparisons... I love the way DIMEBAG Darrel Abbott (PANTERA guitarist) brought rolling, staccato thrash riffs with a bluesy Southern groove into the mainstream of metal....Pantera songs like "A New Level" and "Fucking Hostile" had great, catchy thrash riffs and were often a gateway for metal nubies getting into the metal scene for the first time.
The last time I saw PANTERA was March 13th, 2001 (I STILL have the tic stub) at the Mid Hudson Civic Center in Poughkeepsie, NY with Morbid Angel and SoulFly.. I bought a tic for a friend to enjoy the show with.. I wanted to check out Morbid Angel again and.. Steve Tucker's vocals were AWESOME! Phil Anselmo was in fine form that night but also humble saying "Hey anytime you want us to play here, anytime"....PANTERA even did a cover of Ted Nugent's "Cat Scratch Fever"..Fun show!..
Dimebag Darrells death happened on the swing home after Damageplan's tour with Shadows Fall, and the Haunted late last year. The Abbott brothers formerly of PANTERA have played stadiums worldwide, but were playing smaller, intimate venues with their new project Damageplan a year after PANTERA's breakup.
This ones for Dimebag Darrell as someone online said "If there is a God in the sky, he took Dimebag away because God needed a drinking partner".
Nate Gale's murder of Dimebag Darrell should not reflect badly on metal fans as this was an isolated incident of a random wingnut...
All of us metalheads are part of the same community, we go to the underground shows (wich are smaller) and we look out for each other ... To be a fan of underground metal, it takes loyalty when your fave bands get no radio airplay and aren't on MTV... Underground extreme metal bands aren't rich as they take time off from their day jobs to tour... Metal fans are the most loyal, KNOWLEDGEABLE fans in any genre of music...
So before I go to sleep tonight, I will have a shot of black tooth grin for Dimebag in his memory..Thank you Dimebag for all the great music, memories, riffs, and the hell raising good times... BTW, anyone whom behaves as irrationally as Nathan Gale, including YOU (and we all have dysfunctions, personality disorders) and is that angry at someone whom they don't know in any aspect of the entertainment industry or any walk of life, check your head if you're than impulsive, manipulative, obsessive,or are going to "act out".. Also tell any one else whom exhibits this behavior (including extreme rage, violence and most of all jealousy) to check there head as well..Ratt them out, and don't associate with them for your own safety...After all, as PANTERA said, this is about "RE-SPECT"; Respecting your selves, and others.. It doesn't matter if you like everyone or not, it's about NOT being violent. "Can't you see I'm easily bothered by persistence, one step from lashing out at you...."Is there no standard anymore? "Be your self, by your self, stay away from me, A lesson learned in life, known from the dawn of time... RE-SPECT, WALK, what do you say? RE- SPECT, WALK..Go home PUNK"-PANTERA (Walk).
The irony of all of this, is that all those guys in PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN had a great relationship with their fans. Mucho support to all of the DAMAGEPLAN and PANTERA crew.
R.I.P. "Dimebag" Darrell Abottt (Damageplan/Pantera) this drinks for YOU \m/ -l-
Also, RIP John Lennon (Beatles) whom died on this date in 1980, as now is the best time to "Give Peace a Chance"..
11/30/09-I can't believe that shit happened to DIMEBAG, he was the sweetest, most charismatic, charming, awesome shredder in metal, a true, grounded, nice guy, with a heart the size of TEXAS..We will always remember DIMEBAG, and the great shows, pits, and good times.
R.I.P. TO SOME COURAGEOUS METAL HEADS, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED:
Nathan Bray of Columbus, Ohio
Erin Halk of Columbus, Ohio
Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson of Texas (SECURITY for DAMAGEPLAN)

I loved DIMEBAG's squealing guitar leads, riffs, and charismatic personality-\m/ -l- Getcha Pull