Diamond Darrell
| Dimebag Darrell | |
|---|---|
Dimebag Darrell in 2004
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Darrell Lance Abbott |
| Also known as | Diamond Darrell, Dimebag Darrell |
| Born |
August 20, 1966 Arlington, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | December 8, 2004 (aged 38) Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Guitar, vocals |
| Years active | 1979–2004 |
| Labels | Atco, EastWest, Big Vin, Elektra |
| Associated acts | Pantera, Damageplan, Gasoline, Pumpjack, Anthrax, Rebel Meets Rebel, King Diamond |
Darrell Abbott (August 20, 1966 – December 8, 2004), also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American musician and songwriter who was a co-founder of Pantera alongside his brother Vinnie Paul, and founder of Damageplan. He was considered to be one of the driving forces behind groove metal.
Abbott was shot and killed by a gunman while on stage during a performance with Damageplan on December 8, 2004, at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio. He ranked No. 92 in Rolling Stone magazine's 100 Greatest Guitarists and No. 1 in the UK magazine, Metal Hammer.
Abbott was born in Arlington, Texas on August 20, 1966, the son to Carolyn and Jerry Abbott, a country musician and producer. Before he wanted a guitar, Abbott asked his parents for a BMX bike. He took up the guitar when he was twelve, with his first being a Hondo-style Les Paul along with a small amplifier. Upon winning a series of local guitar competitions, the most notable of which was held at the Agora Ballroom in Dallas, Texas, Abbott was awarded a Dean ML. He then sold this guitar to luthier Buddy Blaze, who installed a Floyd Rose bridge and emblazoned it with Abbott's signature lightning bolt paint job; Blaze returned it some years later. Coincidentally, his father had also bought him a Dean ML the morning before the aforementioned competition, but one with a cherry sunburst finish instead. Abbott met his long-time girlfriend Rita Haney at a young age around the third grade.
Abbott formed Pantera in 1981 with his brother Vinnie Paul on drums. Originally, he called himself Diamond Darrell Lance. The band was influenced with thrash metal acts such as Slayer, Megadeth, Venom, and Metallica as well as traditional metal bands such as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Motörhead, and Judas Priest. Shortly after singer Phil Anselmo joined Pantera, Darrell was invited by Dave Mustaine to join Megadeth. Darrell was willing to join, but on the condition that Mustaine also hire his brother Vinnie on drums. As Mustaine already had a drummer, Chuck Behler, Darrell decided to stay with Pantera.
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