a metal casualty

click for the article

For those that don’t want to click, a random gunman went to a Damageplan show in Columbus, OH and opened fire on the band and crowd. Damageplan had two former members of Pantera in the lineup: brothers Vinnie Paul and “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott. Dimebag was shot (four times!) and killed, and there are 3 others dead and at least one other person in critical condition. The shooter was killed on the scene.

Pantera had a reputation for being into plenty of drugs and booze, and they probably weren’t model citizens in plenty of other ways. Still, this sucks. The former metal cover band I was in with my friend Andy featured plenty of their music. They were (and still are) one of the most rhythmic and angriest metal bands in existence. They stayed heavy when Metallica started to suck. Fast Dimebag riffs are perfect for when I’m driving in my car and feeling low.

*pours a bottle of Shiner on the ground*, and peace to the Abbotts and all those Pantera fans out there.