Birthday Tribute to Dimebag Darrell

Fri, 20 Aug 2010

This week LickLibrary is paying tribute to the legendary Dimebag Darrell, who would have celebrated his 44th birthday this Friday. Born August 20th 1966 in Dallas Texas, Darrell Lance Abbott was the son of Carolyn and Jerry Abbott (country musician and producer).

Best known for being the guitarist in Pantera, along with brother Vinnie Paul, he left a legacy of licks and hard-hitting solos that have helped inspire the metal guitarists of today.

He took up guitar at the age of 13 going on to winning a series of local guitar competitions including one at The Agora Ballroom in Dallas where he was awarded his first Dean Guitar ML, eventually he would be barred from competing in guitar competitions to give other contestants a chance to win.

Dimebag (previously known as Diamond Darrell when Pantera were a Glam rock band), was a huge fan of the band KISS. He had a tattoo of guitarist Ace Frehley on his chest and upon meeting him got him to autograph the tattoo, which Darrell added to the permanent inked tribute to his idol.

When Pantera formed in 1981 Darrell & Vinnie Paul enlisted the help of their father to form their own record label ‘Metal Magic’, they were influenced by bands like Def Leppard & Judas Priest. In 1988 when they vocalist Phil Anselmo joined the band they released a more forceful and aggressive album called ‘Power Metal’ and the band signed with East West (part of Atlantic Records) to released their breakout album ‘Cowboys From Hell’ in 1990. The band went on to release another 4 albums throughout the 90’s to 2000’s ‘Reinventing The Steel’ which would be their ninth and final studio album.

Dimebag Darrell also wrote a long-running popular Guitar World magazine column which later was compiled into the book ‘Riffer Madness’.

After Pantera parted ways ‘Dimebag’ and Vinnie Paul formed Damageplan in 2004 and released their debut album ‘New Found Power’ in February of that year. It was at his final Damageplan show in Columbus, Ohio that he was murdered on stage at gunpoint by Nathan Gale.

Fans and fellow musicians are still mourning the loss of a legend, he is still being honoured in Guitar and Metal Awards throughout the industry, and his infamous riffs and licks will live on forever as bands continue to pay tribute to Dimebag.

Check out below our this video of Andy James with his Sacred Mother Tongue performing Pantera's "Cowboys From Hell" with Metal Hammer Magazine's Dom Lawson a few weeks back at a gig in London, and then check out our Dimebag Darrell playlist on YouTube! 



Why not learn some of Dimebags greatest riffs, licks and solos with one of these DVD's - then send us your videos on YouTube, Facebook & Twitter and we'll feature our favourite! Check back very soon (week or so) in our Classic Lessons where you'll be able to get "Cowboys From Hell".