A sad day

Today is indeed a sad, dark day in music history.

Former Pantera guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott was murdered onstage in Columbus last night by a crazy, sick individual who was himself shot dead by the first police officer to arrive at the scene.

I am depressed and still somewhat in shock.  Pantera was, and will always be, one of my favorite bands ever.  I attended four of their concerts in my lifetime, all during my teenage years.  Theirs was the first concert I really attended without adult supervision, back when I was 13 or 14.

Dimebag's brother, drummer Vinnie Paul (Abbott), was apparently also shot but not murdered.  He is one of the best drummers in Rock and Roll/Metal history, HANDS DOWN.  (A double-bass revolutionary, in my opinion.)

I don't know all of the details yet, but I was compelled to post my condolences here ASAP.  I will definitely go downtown today to pay respects at, or create, a makeshift memorial at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. 

This will not likely touch as many music fans as Kurt Cobain's death ten years ago because Heavy Metal isn't a mainstream music outlet.  However, Pantera was/is a KING among metal bands and helped create its own true niche in music. 

Personally, this one hurts me a lot more.

My condolences to the murdered fans and their families, to the band Damage Plan (in which Dimebag and his brother were playing when shot), to the Abbott family and to music fans everywhere.