The iconic American guitarist, Dimbag Darrell, also known as Diamond, was brutally murdered. Once, as a talented young man, he, together with his older brother, put together the legendary Pantera team, and after its collapse - Damageplan. Diamond Darrell possessed a high technique of the game, and to see this, just listen to a cool topic called Cemetery Gates.
Biography
Dimebag Darrell received a slightly different name from his parents at birth. This is where we start. Darrell Lance Abbott was born on August 20, 1966 in the town of Alrington, located in the suburbs of Dallas, Texas. Father - Jerry Abbott - was a musician and producer, had his own recording studio in Pantego called Pantego Sound Studios. Therefore, it is not surprising that the boy decided to become a guitarist, having seen enough of various blues virtuosos since childhood. However, a special love for the instrument woke up after listening to the game by Ace Freili (Kiss).
At that time, Dimbag Darrell’s brother - Vinnie Paul - was already mastering the drum kit, so the kid wanted to learn this too. The eldest of the boys did not particularly like it, so he said that young Abbott should "make friends" with another instrument. As a result, Darrell begged his father for a Hondo Les Paul guitar, and the brothers got more fun. The guy turned out to be smart little and very soon began to take part in various guitar competitions, and always returned with a victory. As a result, an 18-year-old teenager was in the judge’s chair, since no one could defeat him.
Dimbag Darrell's Career Start
Pantera was the first band of a talented guitarist to put together with his brother drummer. At that time, they were “green” teenagers, because Vinnie was 17 years old, and Darrell was only 15. Friends of his elder brother did not want to accept the “small” team, but he threatened them that without Dymbeg there would be no team at all. And soon he became the lead singer of Panther. Ironically, the situation repeated several years later, only the participants switched places. Once Dave Mustaine called Darrell to Megadeth, as this nugget could significantly improve the sound of the group. The offer was very tempting, but Dymbag refused to go there without Vinnie, for whom there simply was no place. Here is such a boomerang of fate!
Style and best albums
Panther began its existence with covers for glam dinosaurs such as Van Halen and Kiss. Then the guys began to write their own songs, but for a long time did not change the chosen style. However, the moment came when they decided to make the sound heavier in order to play something like Slayer, Megadeth or Metallica. And by the will of fate, they became one of those who created a new direction in metal, which is terribly called “groove”.
The fifth album, Cowboys from Hell (1990), shot at the target, finally making the Panthers famous. However, the next one - Vulgar Display of Power (1992) - became one of the coolest albums of the 90s and showed the world that Pantera is unique in its kind. Just then, Darrell's pseudonym - Diamond - was replaced by a Dimbag.
Decay
The official date for the collapse of the Pantera group is considered to be 2003, but problems began around the middle of the 90s. The conflict in the team was brewing against the backdrop of alcoholism and drug addiction by vocalist Phil Anselmo, who, in a stupefied state, threw out various "numbers". In addition, he had problems with his back, and this somewhat hindered the creative activity of Panther.
Since 2001, Phil has simply scored on his comrades, plunging into touring tours with other projects. Of course, he justifies such behavior by the fact that he has never been called during these two years. Then the other members of the group "resolved", however, Anselmo cherished the hope that their paths would converge.
A new group
Damageplan Daymbag Darrell and Winnie Paul founded immediately after the breakup of Panther. They invited Vocal to the ex-guitarist of the band Halford - Patrick Lahman. The bass player was Bob Zil. The first album, New Found Power, was released on February 10, 2004, the circulation sold more than well, and in just a week. Material was also prepared for the new album, but the killing of Dimbag Darrell destroyed all plans.
Third-party projects
From the distant 96th to the 2003th, Abbott and Pantera bass player Rex Brown often met country musician David Alan Coe, working on a project called Rebel Meets Rebel. And on May 2, 2006, the album was released, and it was in it that the song Get Outta My Life is located, in which, according to Dimbag Darrell himself, he played his best solo.
During the time of John Bush's participation in Anthrax, he played several guitar solos in songs: King Size, Riding Shotgun, Inside Out, Born Again Idiot, Strap It On, Cadillac Rock Box. The team considered Darrell his sixth member, and this is not surprising, because he so often made their songs sound special.
Dymbag also performed a solo in the main composition of the Voodoo album by King Diamond, and the sample was taken by Nickelback for the song Side of a Bullet. And almost before his death, Darrell took part in a solo recording for Premenishen's Eyes of the South song, in which his two cousins played - Heather Manley and April Adkinson.
The origins of the guitarist’s creative potential originate from country, so he often met with adherents of this genre in Dallas and recorded some compositions. In 2006, one such song, titled Country Western Transvestite Whore, was discovered, in which Dayb Darrell sang together with Rodd (Throbbin Donnie) and played the guitar.
To everything else, it should be added that Abbots in the company of Rex Brown or Bob Zilla (during Damageplan) gave New Year concerts, naming their collector Gasoline. And once they performed a cover version of ZZ Top - Heard it on the X, calling themselves Tres Diablos.
Instruments
At the beginning of his career, Abbott played a guitar company Dean ML, with the machine Bill Lawrence L500XL, turning the "hot" side to the fretboard. She was Dimebag Darrell's favorite guitar for quite some time, and Buddy Blaze inlaid her with images of lightning, giving a special uniqueness. The musician gave her the name Dean From Hell.
When the production of Dean ML guitars ceased, Darrell tried more than one firm and model before settling on Washburn. Named tools for it were made by Yuri Shishkov, whose skill is known all over the world. By the way, Dymbag called him nothing more than “Crazy Russian” (Crazy Russian), which translates as “crazy Russian”. Darrell really appreciated the work of the master, so he turned only to him. According to Yuri, a musician in life was a very modest and peaceful person, and not that tough and evil "guy from the stage." Favorite Dymbag models from Washburn: Culprit; Dime 3; Stealth.
Almost before his death, Darrell again returned to the Dean guitars, because its founder, Dean Zelinski, returned to the company. They made a personalized tool for him, calling him Dime O 'Flame. In 2005, the company released the Dime Tribute series as a tribute to the Dayimbu Darrell. The Dean Razorback guitar model is also dedicated to him, in the design of which the musician took an active part.
Brutal murder
American rock musician Daymbag Darrell died on stage during his own performance at the Columbus Club Alrosa Villa at the hands of sociopath Nathan Gale. This "fan-covered" Panther fan suddenly started firing at the musician and the people who were next to him from the Beretta-92F - the result of the shooting was the killing of four people and the wound of two others.
Darrell had five shots, one of which hit his head and caused instant death. The life of a talented solo guitarist suddenly ended when he was only 38.
The other three killed consisted of a local resident Nathan Bray who came to the concert (23 years old); club employee Erina Halka (29 years old), who lived there; and Damageplan security guard Jeff Thompson (40 years old). Here are the names of the survivors of the shootout: Jeff Brooks is a technician, Chris Paluska is a group manager. The tragic event took place on December 8, 2004 in the city of Calambus, Ohio.
Shootout Details
Police said Gale fired 15 shots at a time and even managed to reload the gun. The killer silently and deliberately sent one bullet after another, which clearly indicated that he was fully aware of his own actions. In response to attempts by the guards to rationalize the inadequate type, he simply opened fire on them, injuring Polusk. Erin Hulk tried to sneak up behind and “calm” Gale with a beer bottle, but failed and was killed.
Jeffrey Thompson (the head of the group’s security) managed to restrain the sociopath for a short time, thereby saving the life of other Damageplan musicians. Therefore, Winnie Paul and John Graham owe their lives to him. It is noteworthy that Nathan Gale was nearsighted and dropped his glasses during the brawl, which helped police officer James Nighemeyer to get to him unnoticed.
Damageplan guard Jeff Thompson was badly injured, as was Deimbag. Nathan Bray hastened to the stage to provide them with medical assistance, but Gale killed him with one shot in the chest. Jeff Brooks clashed with the killer on stage, and he, not wanting to give up the weapon, wounded him in the right arm, leg and torso, after which he used it as a human shield.
Five police officers, led by Rick Krum, burst through the main entrance and rushed to the scene, and officer Nighemeyer came from the back door. Gail did not think about a possible attack from behind, so he drew attention only to the cops going to him. At the moment when the head of the hostage ceased to cover the killer, Nighemeyer shot him right in the face. During a search of Nathan Gale, another 35 rounds were discovered.
Nurse Mindy Rhys, along with another fan, rushed to Dimbag Darrell, and they tried to give him first aid, but, alas, it was useless. The ambulance arrived confirmed death. The musician now rests at the Moore Memorial Cemetery, which is located in Texas's Arlington.
About the fate of the brave officer
The Franklin County Court in May 2005 called Nighemeyer to account (the standard procedure after the shootout) and fully justified his actions. From his superiors, he received high praise and the title of Best Police Officer of 2005. Five of his comrades were also awarded medals for their courage.
In 2006, James Nighemeyer wrote an opening speech to the book A Vulgar Display Of Power: Courage and Carnage at the Alrosa Villa.
Motives for killing
At first, everyone thought that the reason for the inadequate behavior of Nathan Gale was the collapse of the Panther, and then that the conflict with Anselmo could become the motive. However, both theories have been disproved.
During the investigation, it turned out that Nathan Gale was sick with schizophrenia, so he was obsessed with the idea that Pantera stole his ideas and music and taunted him. The killer’s mother gave her son’s diary to the author of A Vulgar Display Of Power, it follows from these notes that he didn’t kill Darrell because of the alleged theft of songs.