Dimebag Darrell

Dimebag Darrell Abbott To Be Posthumously Inducted Into Hollywood's RockWalk


BW&BK has received the following press release:

At noon on Thursday, May 17, 2007, guitarist extraordinaire, Dimebag Darrell Abbott, will be posthumously inducted into Hollywood's RockWalk, the only sidewalk gallery dedicated to honoring those artists who have made a significant impact and lasting contribution to the growth and evolution of Rock ‘n’ Roll. A bronze bust of Abbott will be unveiled during the ceremony and later installed along the RockWalk posthumous inductee wall, which also includes ROBERT JOHNSON, ELVIS PRESLEY and BILL GRAHAM among others. Abbott will be located directly adjacent to other equally accomplished musicians and innovators on the RockWalk such as JIMI HENDRIX, ERIC CLAPTON, CARLOS SANTANA, JOHNNY CASH, VAN HALEN, BONNIE RAITT, JERRY LEE LEWIS, CARL PERKINS, THE RAMONES, MARVIN GAYE, JAMES BROWN, BRIAN WILSON, STEVIE WONDER and JOHN LEE HOOKER

One of metal’s finest guitar players, Dimebag Darrell Abbott was born on August 20, 1966 in Dallas, Texas. Born into a musical family, his father was a country and western songwriter and producer, Dimebag Darrell’s interest in hard rock and heavy metal began to grow upon his discovery of KISS and their guitarist, Ace Frehley. He entered numerous guitar competitions in the Dallas area which resulted in him winning an instrument that he would eventually become closely associated with, the Dean ML. In 1981, Dimebag Darrell along with his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul, formed what would turn out to be one of the most popular heavy metal bands of the 1990s. Beginning with Cowboys from Hell, PANTERA touched off a string of classic metal releases; Vulgar Display of Power followed and with it, brought the band star status and domination in the hard rock/metal music community for a decade. The band received four Grammy nominations, platinum for The Great Southern Trendkill, Cowboys From Hell and Pantera’s Greatest Hits and double platinum for Vulgar Display of Power and Far Beyond Driven, which had its debut at Number One on the Billboard album chart. Released in 2000, Reinventing the Steel was the final studio effort from the band. Darrell and Vinnie went on to form DAMAGEPLAN, releasing New Found Power in 2003. During a Damageplan performance in Columbus, Ohio, on December 8, 2004, Dimebag was fatally shot at the age of 38. Dimebag Darrell Abbott will always be remembered as one of the most influential guitarists in modern metal music.

The induction event is free and open to the public.

Ce n'est que justice, mais ça ne le ramènera malheureusement pas...

Dimebag Darrell’s Black Tooth Bash Announced

BW&BK has received the following press release:

Six String Masterpieces is presenting the Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute Auction to benefit The Little Kids Rock Foundation at the House of Blues Hollywood. This event is held after the induction of Dimebag Darrell Abbott to the Hollywood Guitar Center Rock Walk on May 17th.

The night will start out with ring-master Jamey Jasta of HATEBREED and Headbanger's Ball leading us into the 3-ring circus in honor of Dimebag Darrell Abbott and his induction. Jasta opens the night with introducing to the masses the L.A Chapter of the Little Kids Rock. The kids will rock out and show you how a little love from us can help change the lives of these gifted kids that would not normally have the chance to learn and play instruments.

Jasta will then head up the now famed Black Tooth Bash. This nights BLACK TOOTH BAND will comprise of performances by Vinnie Paul Abbott (HELLYEAH, ex-PANTERA), Scott Ian (ANTHRAX), Tim "Ripper" Owens (ICED EARTH, BEYOND FEAR), JOHN 5 (ROB ZOMBIE), David Draiman (DISTURBED), Bob Zilla (ex-DAMAGEPLAN), Aaron Lewis (STAIND), Ace Frehley, Brent Smith and Jasin Todd (SHINEDOWN), Dave Navarro, Stephen Perkins, Matt Byrne (Hatebreed), Chester Bennington (LINKIN PARK) and many more surprise artists!

Six-String Masterpieces: The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute is a collection of over 60 Dean ML guitars that have been hand-painted by world-famous Rock Stars and internationally known Tattoo & Visionary Artists in a memorial tribute to one of the greatest guitarists of all time, Dimebag Darrell Abbott. The guitars can be viewed prior to the auction May 4th to May 16th at LaLuz DeJesus Gallery in Los Angeles (4633 Hollywood Ave).

The Little Kids Rock Foundation (501C3) is the charity of choice for Dimebag Darrell – so it’s Dime-Time folks and we are going to rock the house to honor Dimebag and raise money for the kids!

The gear companies are uniting as one to raise money for the kids. The night’s sponsors are Dimebag Hardware, Dean Guitars, Coffin Case, Seymour Duncan, GHS Strings, EMG Pickups, Schecter Guitars with more joining us each day!!

For more information on the charity and the Six String masterpieces go to www.rockwalk.com www.littlekidsrock.org, www.actionartsagency.com, www.myspace.com/sixstringmasterpieces.

Dimebag Darrell's Estate Reaches Settlement In Lawsuit Over Alrosa Shootings

The following report is courtesy of John Futty from The Columbus Dispatch:

The estate of "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, the DAMAGEPLAN/exPANTERA guitarist who died in a 2004 shooting at Alrosa Villa, has reached a settlement in its wrongful-death lawsuit against the North Side nightclub.

The lawsuit was dismissed this week after Abbott's family and two band employees injured in the shooting agreed to a "nominal settlement," said Rebecca Price, an attorney for the club. She would not disclose terms of the agreement.

"What happened here on Dec. 8, 2004, was a tragedy for everyone and our hearts go out to the victims and their families," Alrosa Villa manager Rick Cautela said in a statement issued by Price. "There is nothing we could have done to stop it."

Gerald Leeseberg, attorney for Abbott's estate, did not return a phone call seeking comment.

The lawsuit said the Cautela family, which owns and operates Alrosa Villa, was negligent in not stopping Nathan Gale, a 25-year-old Marysville man with a history of mental illness, from entering the club with a gun and ammunition.

Gale jumped a fence surrounding a patio outside the club as Damageplan began playing its first song. He then walked through the crowd and entered the stage from behind a stack of amplifiers. He pulled a handgun and shot Abbott in the head, then turned the gun on those who tried to intervene.

Damageplan crew member Jeffrey Thompson, club security guard Erin Halk and audience member Nathan Bray also were killed. Band manager Christopher Paluska and band technician John Brooks were wounded.

The carnage ended when Columbus Police Officer James Niggemeyer entered the club through a rear door and fatally shot Gale as Gale held a gun to Brooks' head.

The lawsuit was filed by the guitarist's brother, drummer Vincent Paul Abbott, on behalf of the estate, and Paluska and Brooks.

Dimebag Darrell's Widow Speaks About Honorary Stage At Download

Rita Haney-Abbott, widow of slain PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist Dimebag Darrell, has spoken to NME about her joy at the re-naming of Download's second stage in his honor.

"Dimebag" Darrel Abbot was shot dead by paranoid schizophrenic Nathan Gale, while playing with his band Damageplan at the Alrosa Villa in Ohio on 8 December 2004.

"It's nice that everyone here remembers him as well," she explained, "When I found out, it really made me smile. It was a good thing to wake up to."

She was first informed that the stage had been re-named via Dimebag's brother and ex-band-mate, Vinnie Paul. Haney-Abbott has since been invited to Download as a guest of honor by event promoters Live Nation.

She sees a lasting testament to the legendary metal guitarist in the bands who continue to mine his sound: "There are a helluva lot of bands who are influenced by Darrell. His musical is massive."

(Thanks NME.com)