I don't believe it. Totally in shock.
To lose one of metal's premier guitarists in such a violent way, on the anniversary of John Lennon's assassination? Horrible.
I wasn't a huge Pantera fan, but I always had respect for them and their music. Dimebag was a great guitarist and from all accounts a pretty standup guy; he didn't deserve this. And four other people got killed in the process. What a sad day.
<i>(from the article) "Police could not comment on a report that Gale had shouted out "You broke up Pantera!" before shooting Abbott." </i>
What a fu<a>cking b<a>astard. Metal fans are a fanatical bunch, but that's sick to even conceive of acting out such an adolescent revenge fantasy. Glad the cop nailed him. He was clearly intent on taking even more lives.
<i>(also from the article) "Asked whether violence at concerts and in nightclubs was increasing, Rolling Stone magazine editor Joe Levy disagreed.
"I would say what happened in Columbus is almost unprecented ? it's an aberration," Levy told FOX News' Bill McCuddy.
"Is there a connection between this music and violence? Yes. Violence is a part of this music," Levy conceded. But he added that "this kind of music is more about social pressure and pain and anger." </i>
That's a pretty fair shake. The article rightly paints the event in a tragic light and as an "aberration" rather than play up the whole "metal is evil" angle. Much better than I would've expected from Fox. No doubt though, I'm sure we'll hear something from that great upstanding bastion of Christian morality Jerry Falwell in due course (please note sledgehammer-esque application of sarcasm).
So, so sad and pointless. My condolence to Dimebag's family and friends along with the others lost. I wonder what Phil Anselmo (former Pantera frontman) has to say about this. I know there was some bad blood between him and Darryl.