PANTERA VOCALIST PHIL ANSELMO DOES NOT PLAN TO COMMEMORATE THE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF DIMEBAG’S DEATH
Jon Wiederhorn of Yahoo Music reports:
It’s hard to believe that on December 8th, a full decade will have passed since Pantera guitarist Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott and three other people were shot and murdered by a former Marine 90 seconds after Damageplan hit the stage at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio.
Various individuals and organizations across the globe have scheduled events in December to celebrate Dimebag’s life, however, one person who won’t be publicly commemorating, is his former Pantera bandmate, vocalist Phil Anselmo.
“There is no f—-ing way on this planet Earth that I am going to celebrate the death of one of my best friends and my guitar player in Pantera,” Anselmo tells Yahoo. “I won’t do any Pantera songs or anything like that. Like every night, I’ll send out a song to Dimebag. I always send out the song Lifer because if there was ever a lifer in heavy metal music — someone who lived it and breathed it and forged it every single day — it was him. He is the epitome of a lifer whether he is in the tomb or not.”
“Every year gets harder,” Anselmo says in a grave tone. “I look at what’s out there in heavy metal and I think about what could have been. Really, it gets tougher every single f—-ing year. This is an evil time of year for me. It’s rough, man. When you think of the madcap f—-ing way he was taken from us, I don’t think any of us in the band can really come to f—-ing terms with it. The murder made no sense, the reasoning made no sense, and because it was done by a sick f—-ing person that had nothing to do with us except help seal the fate of the story and create this gigantic gulf of so many questions, it’s just confounding and miserable.”
“I often wonder where his alcoholism would have led him and where his health would be if he hadn’t been taken from us,” Anselmo says. “I think if his health was at stake to the extent that it would have taken his guitar playing away from him, that motherf—-er would have gone bone sober tomorrow. Everyone knows him as that crazy, whiskey-drinking guitar player from Pantera, but I think that guitar came first for him. He did not start playing guitar to get to whiskey, just like I didn’t start playing heavy metal music to get to drugs.”
Regarding a Pantera reunion, Anselmo says, “I have very mixed feelings about a Pantera reunion. First and foremost, there’s been no cooperation from Vince [Paul, former Pantera drummer and Dimebag’s brother] to interact with myself or Rex. That’s his decision and something we have to live with, and that’s fine. But I know that there is a whole new audience that has been turned on to Pantera by their parents, older brothers, big sisters, and older friends. Those people never got a chance to see Pantera and would love to have that chance. Rex and I are the type that love to give the people what they want….[but] is it really a Pantera reunion without Dimebag? That’s something that confounds the whole process, aside from Vince. So right now, for me, just getting up there and doing those songs is really something I enjoy for the moment, and something I enjoy in front of an audience. Everyone’s singing along and jamming the songs — those songs we wrote — all the anthems. That’s the public’s stuff. Those are their songs as well as our songs. So, to get up and jam them is always a pleasure, but anyone who might be clamoring for a Pantera might be engaging in wishful thinking.”
Read more at Yahoo Music.
source: yahoo.com
I had the pleasure of seeing Dime play many times. What a tragedy that he’s gone…
I’ve visited Dime’s grave many times since he died. I agree with Phil in that Dime’s death is not something to “celebrate”. That’s definitely the wrong word. “Remembering” Dime and how all our hearts were broken on that tragic day 10 years ago is what December 8th 2014 is going to be. I am a born and raised Texan, living just under 100 miles south of the Dallas/Fort Worth area, I share the same birthday as Dime, (August 20th), and I saw Pantera in clubs before they were signed to a major label. I have a DEEP love and respect for that band. They were my favorite band of the 1990’s and will always be one of my favorite bands of all time, Dime was my my favorite guitarist of that decade and one of my favorites of all time and the metal world hasn’t been the same without Pantera and without Dime. The way the band ended, Phil’s drug addiction, Dime’s murder, is the saddest end there ever could have been. I think Pantera should never reform, even if it’s for just a tour or special show. Dime is irreplaceable and as good of a job as someone like Zakk would do in Dime’s place it would not be the same. But I do want the hatred and blame Vinnie feels towards Phil to at least diminish to the level of them at least being on speaking terms. But that’s up to Vinnie and I’ll respect his decision because I understand how he must feel. Dime was his only brother, his best friend and his musical partner for life. I have one younger brother who is also my best friend and I can’t imagine going through what Vinnie went through. Time heals wounds, but sometimes wounds are just too deep. All I can say is I love and respect Vinnie Paul Abbott, Phillip Anselmo, Robert “Rex” Brown and the idol, the beloved Cowboy From Hell himself Darrell Lance “Dimebag” Abbott. God bless them all. God bless Vinnie and Dime’s father Jerry Abbott and God bless Dime’s widow Rita Haney. Dime’s memory will live on forever. He has joined the ranks of legends and deserving so because he himself is a legend. Rest in peace brother Dime.
I think celebrating is the wrong word to use in the title. Maybe commemorating instead?
Celebrating implies that a person is happy that the event took place (like and anniversary or birthday). Just a thought.
You are absolutely right Luca,
I will change it right now.
D 🙂
Today is December 8th. There are tears in the eyes of every Lone Star State metal fan and millions of others around the world. I am proud to be a Texan and proud that Pantera and Dimebag are from this great state. Pantera’s music will forever be part of my life and Darrell Lance “Dimebag” Abbott’s memory will live on forever. We miss you Dime. Rest In Peace Brother.
Dana, thank you so much for posting this story. As a proud Texan, Pantera is THE metal band here. I met Dime 20 years ago and I’ve posted a shortened version of that meeting on this site in the past. I don’t expect everyone to feel like I do right now, but I have tears in my eyes and even though it’s been 10 years, Dime’s death still breaks my heart. I remember to the second the early morning of December 8th, 2004, when I turned on the radio and learned of what happened just hours before in Columbus, Ohio. I was in shock. Once the reality of what happened sank in, I couldn’t do anything else but cry my eyes out. I watched the DIMEVISION home video before I typed this post (I work an over night job, so 5:30am is my 5:30 pm) and even though I’ve watched it countless times, it still reminds me of how incredible Dime was, not only as a musician, but also as a human being. May he forever rest in peace.