How I Met Dimebag Darrell For The First Time

I had many opportunities to hang with Dimebag Darrell but around here, that's almost not that big of a deal.

Dimebag Darrell Abbott of Pantera and Damageplan was what you call "accessible". Among a certain age group, it seems like everyone has a Dimebag story. That was the beauty of Dime, he didn't really put up any fences or pretenses. He kind of knew he had the spotlight but didn't really care who jumped underneath it with him.

I guess you need to know that I have always respected the privacy of celebrities. I have turned down dozens if not hundreds of backstage opportunities because I just didn't want to be "that guy". I'm usually the guy taking the picture instead of the guy in the picture (and that's why I have so few pictures).

Many of you have heard about Pantera's legendary "Cowboys From Hell" secret show. Pantera had pounded the stages of Lubbock many times before, but due to Lubbock's proximately to the band's home base, the band booked a "secret show" to kind of warm-up for a tour.

Well, "warming up" wasn't in the cards for those of us getting ready for the show. The weather outside was absolutely fridged. Myself, I was outdoors cutting live radio breaks outdoors and freezing my buns off. I guess the band had the radio on and Dimebag sent a roadie outside to get me and my radio equipment to finish the broadcast inside. At that point, I got to meet and chill with all the guys and after that meetup, it was no big deal to say hi to Dime and Vinnie whenever. It was a heck of a moment, knowing that the guy was listening to me on the radio, AND was enough of a good human to also realize I was freezing my butt off trying to make their show a success.

I just can't put into words how much Dime and Vinnie are missed. Those dudes were awesome (the same for Dave Williams of Drowning Pool, but that's another story for another time).