Pantera had a huge impact on my life. When I really think about it it's thanks to them I made the awesome friends I still have to this day. How I basically met them was from our love of Pantera. After they heard I was into the same music they were into, we became friends. Pantera was my biggest influence into the metal scene. Which got me into Slayer and much more at the time. My first Pantera CD was Far Beyond Driven. After one listen of that I was hooked instantly. I never listened to things before that made me wanna seriously break things and fill with that kind of energy. From that I moved back and bought Vulgar Display of Power , then Cowboys From Hell. After that I was buying up Slayer, Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse, you name it. I was metal for life!
Next Great Southern Trendkill comes out and I was all over it instantly. Another amazing recording. That's about when I started going to shows, every show I could. My first show ever was Pantera. One time I was leaving for Florida 5AM in the morning. The night before was Pantera at the Hammerstein Ballrom in NY and there was no way in hell I was going to miss this, no matter how hard the next day was going to be. They got up there and played for 2 hours, and that was probably the best show i've ever been to, along with the best show i'll probably ever get to go to. I wrecked in the pit, met alotta cool people. Got beer from Dimebag (He was tossin cups to people in the crowd). And my crowning moment, when Dimebag threw out his guitar pick and I managed to snag it! I still have it in a little box in my room.
After Pantera broke up i've been hoping that they would soon get back together. I knew it wouldn't happen soon but I hope they would just to get to see another show with them.
And I agree with many of you that Dimebag is one of, if not the, greatest guitarists i've ever had the pleasure of getting to listen play. He was a man of amazing talent. I have friends who play damn good that also praise him as the best.
I don't understand what Dimebag could have done to harm this guy in any way. As far as i'm concerned he was probably just some insane scumbag who figured it would be cool to go down as the guy who murdered someone from a major band.
If I could hope for anything out of all of this it is that someone bury's the gunner in a cemetery. If they can't afford it I would pay for it. Because I swear to god I would go there, invite every other person who feels like I do, and piss on his grave every single December 8th from here until I can't move anymore.
Sorry for the long one........ RIP
