Vinnie Paul leads Dimebag tributes

Vinnie Paul says he continues to play as it’s what his late brother Dimebag Darrell would have wanted.

TeamRock Radio have recorded a one-hour special to mark the 10th anniversary of the Pantera and Damageplan guitarist’s death. It’s available now on demand and will also be broadcast on December 8 – exactly a decade on from the shooting which took the metal icon’s life.

Paul says: “I do my best to carry on that same torch and that flame – I know he would kick my ass if I didn’t. That’s why I continue to do what I do.

“I’m happy that I’m part of HellYeah – it’s part of the legacy that me and him started a long time ago.”

The radio special also features contributions from Machine Head, Halestorm, In This Moment, Phil Anselmo and music from the guitar icon.

Metal Hammer’s editor-in chief Alexander Milas says: “The reason why we remember him and the reason why we celebrate him 10 years on isn’t because of the way he died – it’s because of the way he lived. He was an inspiration then, he continues to be and he’ll always live on.”

Dimebag was shot and killed on stage during a Damageplan gig in Columbia, Ohio on December 8 2004 by gunman Nathan Gale, who also killed three more people and injured seven others that night.

Earlier this year Paul ended speculation of a Pantera reunion, calling fans who wanted to see it happen “selfish.”

Scott Munro
Louder e-commerce editor

Scott has spent more than 30 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in the summer of 2014 before moving to the e-commerce team in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, scouts out the best deals for music fans and reviews headphones, speakers, books and more. He's written more than 11,000 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog and has previous written for publications including IGN, the Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from daily news and weekly features, to video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.