December marks the unfortunate anniversary of the death of Pantera guitarist Dimebag Darrell. The legendary axeman, aka Darrell Abbott, was shot onstage in 2004 while performing with Damageplan. It was a huge loss for the metal community and fans of his work, which lives on even though he is gone. Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash shared a few memories with Loudwire recently about the slain guitarist, who died December 8.
"Just one of the nicest guys. A really sweet guy," he said of the musician. "I have one specific memory of hanging out with him at the opening of the Hard Rock in Orlando — just a great night. He, myself, Zakk Wylde, Nikki Sixx, Duff [McKagan] — a bunch of different guys, all just hanging out and having a great time."
Although they were contemporaries, Slash's band would end up rising to stardom first with 1987's Appetite for Destruction, while Pantera blew up with 1990's Cowboys from Hell.
"He was just really cool, but he was a phenomenal guitar player — and back then, I didn't even know who he was," Slash added. "He was just cool; I didn't know much about Pantera ... He had a great tone, and a great original style, and wrote unique riffs and whatnot. He was one of the best new guitar players that came out over a long period of time."
Scott Ian of Anthrax and members of Buckcherry also shared their memories of the guitarist for Loudwire's series.
"It was a really hardcore, tragic event, and the guy wanted to kill me, too," Darrell's brother and Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul said. "And somehow or another, I was lucky enough to escape that, and I'm still here, and I will do everything and anything I can to carry on the legacy and the tradition that my brother always had ... I don't wanna remember it, I don't wanna think about it. It's hard. It's hard. But I've found peace."
