It’s hard to believe that its been a decade now since the world lost the immense talent that was “Dimebag Darrell” Abbot, guitarist for Pantera and later Damageplan. It was on this very day in 2004 (the same day we lost rock icon John Lennon in 1980) that a crazed fan shot and killed Dimebag and two of his crewmen on stage in Columbus, OH. Back then, I was working at Sirius Radio (hosting my stoner rock show Contact High on the Hard Attack metal channel), and I helped pay tribute to him on a memorial show set up by our mutual friend (and program director) Jose Mangin, as well as paying tribute to him in the pages of High Times with a two-page feature.
Several years later in 2011, I had the great honor of posthumously presenting our Lifetime Achievement Award in music (a custom-blown, functional glass bong trophy in the shape of Dime’s guitar) to his widow Rita and former Pantera bassist Rex Brown at our Doobie Awards show in Austin, TX.
Later that year, when Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo sat down with me for an exclusive interview, he spoke fondly, yet somewhat regretfully about the way he’d left things off with his late friend and bandmate.
Dime’s insane shredding abilities and unique style were equaled by the kindness of his heart and his love for the holy leaf (hence his nickname). Though he may be gone, Dimebag’s legacy lives on—through the annual Ride for Dime memorial motorcycle run for charity, the continued devotion and remembrance of his legions of fans, and most importantly through the amazing body of work he created during his all-too-short time on this earth. Rest in power, brother Dime—you will never be forgotten.
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