A few comments on Dime and what happened:
First off, I am still reeling from what happened. It's horrible and it has affected me in a big way. When Cliff Burton died, I was devastated but it was an accident, and somehow that was kind of acceptable, because accidents do happen. Someone walked onstage and shot Dime in the head 5 times at point blank range - and that just completely floored me.
Next - I will be forever grateful that I made the 2 hour trip a few days before to Sayreville, NJ to see that tour. I got to see Dime live right before he was taken from us, and the show was awesome. Dime and crew got the crowd fired up for Shadows Fall and again - seeing him in a small venue was just unbelievable.
I am also disgusted that the asshole who did this was in the Marine Corps. He was kicked out dishonorably (for reasons yet to be disclosed), and he has disgraced the name of all Marines who server their country and the Corps honorably. I am honestly glad that cop who came in killed him. The only thing I can think of that would be better would be to have apprehended him, and then to raffle off tickets to fans - the winners would get 20 minutes alone with the fuck in a locked room and could do whatever they wanted with him.
Lastly - I am going to take the intro to "Cemetary Gates" and write a bass solo for it as a tribute to Dimebag. It's something I feel strongly about, and I am making this a priority over the original stuff I am working on. Every single interview I have read or hear where anyone spoke about Dime, they only had positive things to say about him. I want to do something, regardless of how small it is, to honor him and what he has done for metal. I am also happy that Zakk Wylde still plans on moving forward with the instrumental guitar album that he, Kerry King and Dime were planning on doing - maybe they will make it a tribute.
One last thing - I think Phil Anselmo has a very big opportunity in front of him. After all the fucked up things he has said about Vinny and Dime, and basically breaking up the band in the worst possible fashion - here's what I think the honorable thing to do would be:
Crawl on his hands and knees to Vinny, and sincerely appologize for being a drugged up asshole. Offer the olive branch and suggest re-forming Pantera. I am 100% positive that Zakk Wylde would be happy to play guitar for a reunion/tribute tour, as he is a HUGE Dimebag fan, and his style matches very well with Pantera and Dime's sound.
That's my 2 cents...we miss you Dime...RIP bro.
First off, I am still reeling from what happened. It's horrible and it has affected me in a big way. When Cliff Burton died, I was devastated but it was an accident, and somehow that was kind of acceptable, because accidents do happen. Someone walked onstage and shot Dime in the head 5 times at point blank range - and that just completely floored me.
Next - I will be forever grateful that I made the 2 hour trip a few days before to Sayreville, NJ to see that tour. I got to see Dime live right before he was taken from us, and the show was awesome. Dime and crew got the crowd fired up for Shadows Fall and again - seeing him in a small venue was just unbelievable.
I am also disgusted that the asshole who did this was in the Marine Corps. He was kicked out dishonorably (for reasons yet to be disclosed), and he has disgraced the name of all Marines who server their country and the Corps honorably. I am honestly glad that cop who came in killed him. The only thing I can think of that would be better would be to have apprehended him, and then to raffle off tickets to fans - the winners would get 20 minutes alone with the fuck in a locked room and could do whatever they wanted with him.
Lastly - I am going to take the intro to "Cemetary Gates" and write a bass solo for it as a tribute to Dimebag. It's something I feel strongly about, and I am making this a priority over the original stuff I am working on. Every single interview I have read or hear where anyone spoke about Dime, they only had positive things to say about him. I want to do something, regardless of how small it is, to honor him and what he has done for metal. I am also happy that Zakk Wylde still plans on moving forward with the instrumental guitar album that he, Kerry King and Dime were planning on doing - maybe they will make it a tribute.
One last thing - I think Phil Anselmo has a very big opportunity in front of him. After all the fucked up things he has said about Vinny and Dime, and basically breaking up the band in the worst possible fashion - here's what I think the honorable thing to do would be:
Crawl on his hands and knees to Vinny, and sincerely appologize for being a drugged up asshole. Offer the olive branch and suggest re-forming Pantera. I am 100% positive that Zakk Wylde would be happy to play guitar for a reunion/tribute tour, as he is a HUGE Dimebag fan, and his style matches very well with Pantera and Dime's sound.
That's my 2 cents...we miss you Dime...RIP bro.