Dimebag's Guitar Enshrined At Hard Rock Cafe

Band Photo: Damageplan (?)

For heavy metal fans, the violent death of Pantera and Damageplan guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott in Dec. 2004, ranks among rock's greatest communal losses: Buddy Holly, John Lennon and Kurt Cobain.

But if "Dimebag's" murder at a Columbus, Ohio concert marks the day the metal music died, his rowdy spirit lives on as was evident at Hard Rock Cafe on Wednesday.

Abbott's live-in girlfriend, Rita Haney, and his brother and band mate, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, were on hand to unveil an electric guitar belonging to the murdered guitarist, among new memorabilia items installed at the restaurant.

About 150 fans clamored near the Hard Rock stage for the afternoon presentation to make a connection that even they couldn't always quite explain. "Dime," as he was known, was a different kind of rock god — accessible and down-to-earth.

"I had to be here," said Rocky Rios, 22. "He was so ... cool. At a thing like this, he'd just shake your hand."

Jessica Martin, 23, and Elliot Henry, 22, arrived together wearing Pantera T-shirts. "I'm here pretty much in tribute to him, just to show respect," Martin said.

"He's just everything to me," said Henry, who plays guitar. "I've listened to him since I was 9. The reason I love music is because of him."

In the crowd, musician-artist Jered Keller, 22, held one of his framed drawings autographed by members of Damageplan, including "Dimebag". Keller described the moment he showed him the drawing in spring 2004.

"Dimebag ... was all, 'Yeah, that's what I'm talking about!' He's the only one that made you feel like the fan was the real rock star," said Keller, drummer for a metal trio called the KGB.

Hard Rock waitress Shannon Swearingen, 23, even took the evening shift Wednesday so she "could be here for all this." And that was for a chance to hang out with metal legend Vinnie Paul Abbott. Cheers of "we love you, Vinnie" and "cowboys from hell" went up when he arrived.

"This ensures my brother's legacy lives forever," Abbott said, as the Washburn guitar was unveiled near the stage. "The man is shining on. The magic fingers have graced that guitar."

Haney said she was glad the guitar "ended up in such a cool place." She's helping produce a "Dimebag" Darrell tribute DVD due in Dec. 2005. "He was one of the most approachable people," Haney said. "It makes me feel good to feel the love."

Newly revamped Drowning Pool performed later at the dedication event, which included the donation of several electric guitars to local music education programs such as Terry Lowry's nonprofit Network for Young Artists.

Source: San Antonio Express-News