Sunday, December 9, 2007

RIP Dimebag Darell

I know it's been a while since I've written, and I apologize. With the holidays and birthdays and being a member of one of many lemmings in Corporate America, my hobby of writing was pushed to the side for a moment.

I've missed some important topics, and still don't have the apporpriate time to sit and write about them the way I should. For instance, Kevin Dubrow. What a freaking shame. Being a lover of all things 80's rock, I was stunned and very saddened by the news.


But one of the most heartbreakingly detrimental losses in rock in my lifetime was the death of Dimebag Darrell. Yesterday was the three year anniversary of the shooting. His death had a HUGE impact on my life, not only because Pantera is one of my favorite bands, but also because he was killed at one of my favorite venues that I frequent all the time.

For as long as I live, I will never forget the moment I heard the news. I was at my boyfriend Greg's house watching TV. At about 11pm, we get a frantic call from his mother. I just remember Greg trying to calm his Mom as he was turning the channel to see the local, nightly news. And there it was...the news was everywhere filming and interviewing hundreds of people freaking out and crying outside of the club. Police and medics swarmed the place. All I could think was, "This can't be happening. Holy shit, please don't let Dimebag be dead."

We were supposed to be at that show but for whatever reason decided not to go. We had plenty of friends who were there. One of Greg's friends opened up for Damage Plan, and he was also on the side of the stage watching Damage Plan when it happened.

When I woke up the next morning, I turned on the news immediatly to make sure Dimebag was still alive. When the words left the news anchor's mouth that Dimebag had been killed, I lost my breath and my heart stopped. I just kept saying, "No, no, no, no..." Of course it was all any of the news stations and radio stations could talk about that morning. Dimebag: Dead. Innocent bystanders: Dead. Killer: Dead. I couldn't take it anymore, so I put in Vulgar Display of Power and turned it up as loud as possible in my car, and I cried almost my entire drive to work.

I can't even tell you how many times I've seen Pantera live. During my high school days, I went to see them at least twice a year. I even saw them open up for Skid Row during their Cowboys From Hell tour. Dimebag was the only member I never got to meet.

It was hard to lose him. I know it sounds silly, especially since I didn't even know the guy, but it was still hard to lose someone who was a part of SO many great memories during my teenage years. Vulgar Display of Power is one of the greatest albums in history (in my opinion anyway) and hearing it changed my life.

Going back to the venue for the first time was hard but necessary. It was for a benefit show for Dimebag and all the others who lost their lives. We continue to go and support the venue because in all honestly, I think that's what Dimebag would want. I'm sure that Vinnie Paul would disagree, but I don't think Dimebag would want a local, legendary rock venue to close just because of one, random shooting by a very disturbed asshole; I know he'd want the music to continue, and he'd want the kids to be able to see their favorite bands play.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Whenever one of favorite musical icons leaves us, it's hard news to take. You have to wonder how these m'fers who kill a bunch of people (like the Virginia Tech nut) sit in jail or wherever and nothing happens to them while talented, innocent, amazing people die to early.

Anonymous said...

I do not have any constructive criticism and intelligent debates about this but I am here to say that I am a lucky person to have 2 people I love here with me today because of the grace of God kept them away from there that night, That venue is a place I grew up in,worked in and let my Son grow up in and a place I will always go to. It is a place for musicians to break into the music scene or come back to after 20 years, It is a place where the music will never die.