Darrell Lance Abbott

Darrell playing a show with his band, Damageplan (baysingersworld.com)

"Dimebag" Darrel Lance Abbot was born in Arlington, Texas, on August 20th, 1966. Darrell and his brother Vinnie were raised in a very musical household; their father is country singer and songwriter Jerry Abbott. Both children were blessed with their father's musical talent and formed many successful bands over the years.

Darrell's music career took off as the lead guitarist for Pantera, along with his brother Vinnie Paul as the drummer. Damage Plan and Rebel Meets Rebel were two more of his very successful metal bands. He began playing guitar at the age of 12. By the age of sixteen, he was removed from local guitar competitions for being so much better than his competition. He was asked to come back and judge the next year.

The Late Darrell Lance Abbott (blogs.dallasobserver.com)

At the still-young age of 38 years old, at the peak of his musical career, Darrell Lance Abbott was shot on the night of December 8th, 2004. Dimebag was performing on stage with Damage Plan at the Alrosa Villa in Ohio, when Nathan Gale jumped on stage and shot and killed Dimebag and three others, while injuring two before a present police officer managed to stop the individual.

Dimebag Darrell was a person who would always do whatever he could to give a helping hand to anyone who needed it; such as the time he helped his brother Vinnie Paul out of some bad habits that could have destroyed his career or killed him. All of the people that Darrell had met have had nothing to say but good things about "The King Of Metal." He was a kind, loving, talented, and outgoing person.

Dimebag Darrell (www.justingosnell.com)

In the Words of His Brother, Vinnie; "...Dime will be missed for his giving personality, charisma, caring for others, love and most of all his heart!" Darrell was the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He was the kind of person I think of when I think of a true Hero. He was a great musician and a wonderful person.