Some 20 years ago today, the world lost a legend in the death of “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott. The Pantera and Damageplan guitarist was a legend among legends and was taken away in such a fucking shitty way.
Abbott was shot while onstage during a Damageplan concert at the Alrosa Villa Club in Columbus, Ohio back in 2004. Nathan Gale, a 25-year-old ex-Marine, was the one who pulled the trigger. He murdered three others along with Abbott, as well as wounding three others.
It is believed that Gale targeted Abbott specifically, allegedly due to anger he still held towards Abbott and his brother Vincent “Vinnie Paul” Abbott for breaking up Pantera just a couple of years before. Columbus police did, however, close the case in October 2005 without revealing any actual real motive.
Among some of the others killed were Damageplan crew member Jeffrey Thompson, Alrosa Villa Club security guard Erin Halk, and showgoer Nathan Bray. Band manager Christopher Paluska and their band tech John Brooks were left wounded.
The brothers Abbott formed Pantera back in the 80s, having released four albums before they made it really big with their 1990 major label debut Cowboys from Hell. They ended up breaking up in 2002 because of shit with vocalist Philip Anselmo, leading them to form Damageplan. The band released its debut New Found Power in 2004. Damageplan was on tour supporting the album when the shooting occurred.
Vinnie Paul went on to start Big Vin Records, a label he used to release some of his brother’s last projects, including the country-leaning Rebel Meets Rebel and a movie called Dimevision Vol. 1: That’s the Fun I Have.