Darrell Lance Abbott, also known for his stage name's "Diamond Darrell" or "Dimebag Darrell", was born August 20, 1966 in Arlington, Tx. Darrell is most known for forming the bands
Pantera and Damageplan.
Along with his brother, drummer Vinnie Paul, Darrell formed Pantera in 1981. Although there were a few different incarnations of the band, the official line up would
include bassist Rex Rocker and vocalist Terry Glaze / Terrence Lee. The band started as part of the glam metal style, but
that changed in the late 1980's as they began to show interest in thrash metal. After three independent releases, vocalist Terry Glaze decided to leave the band. After trying a couple of different vocalists, the band finally found the perfect fit in Phil Anselmo. After three years, Pantera released their first and only independent record with
Phil. The album was entitled "Power Metal" and it sold approximately 50,000 copies without the help of a label. Bands like Slayer, Megadeth, and Metallica helped shape the
bands musical direction, eventually creating their own post-thrash, "groove" metal sound. Although the band soon signed with a major label, they were quite successful as an independent band, releasing four
self-financed releases and selling more than 125,000 copies on their own.
In 1989, Megadeth vocalist / guitarist Dave Mustaine asked Darrell to join the band. Darrell was interested only if his brother Vinnie could come along, however, Mustaine had just asked drummer Nick Menza to join. Darrell decided to pass.
In 1990, Pantera released their major label debut, "Cowboys from Hell". The album was successful for a metal release, but it was not until their breakthrough album "Vulgar Display of Power" that the band began to achieve major success. In 1994, Abbott began to go by the nickname "Dimebag Darrell".
By the mid-90's, the band began to suffer from internal tensions, mostly due to the fact that Pantera vocalist Phil Anselmo had become a heroin junkie . In 2003, Pantera broke up and Anselmo began to focus his energy on his other bands like Superjoint Ritual and Down.
In 2004, Vinnie and Darrell formed Damageplan. Damageplan was a heavy metal band which sounded much like Pantera. The band featured guitarist Pat Lachman on vocals and Bob Zilla on bass. Damageplan's debut album, "New Found Power" was released in the United States in Febuary of 2004. This album reached the number 38 spot on the Billboard 200, selling nearly 45,000 copies within the first week of it release.
On December 8, 2004, Damageplan was performing a live show at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio when Darrell was shot and killed by Nathan Gale. Abbott was shot five times on stage. Many people, including Vinnie Paul, believe that Phil Anselmo is partly responsible for Dimebag's death. The vocalist was quoted in an interview, that was published just days before the guitarists was shot, saying that Dimebag
deserved to be severely beaten. Anselmo was told not to attend the funeral and Vinnie, to this day, has still not spoken to him.
Darrell was buried at Memorial Gardens Cemetry in Arlingon, Texas. He is buried beside his mother, resting with Eddie Van Halen's Charvel Hybrid VH2.
Cool fact: Darrell has also in his time invented his own drink known as the "Black Tooth Grin".
How to make a Black Tooth Grin:
This drink is a cocktail that consists of Crown Royal, with just enough Coca-Cola to turn the drink dark brown. The name of the drink comes from a lyric in the Megadeth song "Sweating Bullets". "Some day you too will know my pain, and smile its blacktooth grin"
Dimebag Darrell Gear
Guitars & Pickups
Darrell was best known for playing his Dean ML guitars, equipped with Bill Lawrence L500XL pickups (in reversed position, where the "hot blade" was facing the neck.
In 1995, Dean Guitars went out of business and Darrell teamed up with Washburn guitars, creating two signature models, the "Dime 333" and the "Stealth".
Although Seymour Duncan & Darrell codesigned a pickup, the SH-13 Dimebucker, the guitarist continued to use his Bill Lawrence setup.
Before his death, Darrell ended his relationship with Washburn and joined forces with the return of Dean Guitars. As of today, Dean now produces over 30 different Dimebag models.
Amps
Darrell used Randall RG100ES / RG100HT heads and cabinets during the 80's and up through "Cowboys from Hell". He later used them again on the
"The Great Southern Trendkill" recording.
For the "Vulgar Display of Power" and "Far Beyond Driven" recordings, Darrell switched to Randall Century-200II heads and cabinets. He used them again
when the band recorded "Reinventing the Steel".
After Pantera, Darrell began using Randall Warhead X2 heads and cabinets to record and tour with his latest project New Found Power.
Just before his death, Darrell switched to Modified Krank Revolution heads / cabinets and was in the process of putting out his own creation, the Krankenstein.
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Dimebag Darrell Discography
Pantera - Independent Era
Metal Magic (1983)
Projects in the Jungle (1984)
I Am The Night (1985)
Power Metal (1988)
Pantera - Signed Era
Cowboys from Hell (1990)
Vulgar Display of Power (1992)
Far Beyond Driven (1994)
The Great Southern Trendkill (1996)
Official Live: 101 Proof (1997)
Reinventing the Steel (2000)
Dallas Stars: Greatest Hits (2003) Punk-Off
The Best of Pantera: Far Beyond the Great Southern Cowboys' Vulgar Hits! (2003)
Reinventing Hell: The Best of Pantera (2003)
Damageplan
New Found Power (2004)
King Diamond
Voodoo (1998)
Nickleback
Saturday Night's Alright (For Fighting) (2003)
Side of a Bullet (2005) (Dimebag sample)
David Allen Coe
Rebel Meets Rebel (2004)
Songs with Anthrax
Stomp 442 (1995) Kingsize and Riding Shotgun
Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998) Inside Out and Born Again Idiot
Inside Out (EP) (1998) Inside Out
We've Come for You All (2003) Strap It On and Cadillac Rock Box
