Today marks the 5th anniversary of the passing of Vinnie Paul Abbott. Abbott co-founded the heavy metal band Pantera in 1981 as well as Damageplan in 2003 with his younger brother, ‘Dimebag’ Darrell Abbott, and was a member of the supergroup Hellyeah for 12 years from 2006 until his death in 2018.
Abbott was born in Abilene, Texas, on March 11, 1964. His parents were Jerry, a country music songwriter and producer, and Carolyn Abbott. Vinnie Paul originally played the tuba but was directed towards the drums by his father, who said there were no career prospects for a tuba player. His father bought him his first drum kit. Abbott cited Peter Criss, Alex Van Halen and Tommy Aldridge as his biggest influences as a drummer.
In 1981, Abbott and his brother Dimebag formed Pantera, which became one of the most successful heavy metal bands of all time. They released nine studio albums, including their critically acclaimed hits, Cowboys from Hell, Vulgar Display of Power, and Far Beyond Driven, all of which went multi-platinum. The original line-up of Pantera disbanded in 2003.
In that same year, the Abbott brothers formed Damageplan. They released one studio album, New Found Power in February of 2004, before Darrell was shot and killed on stage later that very same year.
Photo by Brent Porche
In 2006, Abbott joined the heavy metal band Hellyeah, which also featured members of Mudvayne and Nothingface. They have released six studio albums, with the most recent, and final album being Welcome Home in 2019. Hellyeah has been on indefinite hiatus since 2021.
Abbott died in his sleep on June 22, 2018, at the age of 54. The cause of death was later revealed to be dilated cardiomyopathy and coronary artery disease.
Abbott was a highly respected drummer and was considered one of the best in the heavy metal genre. He was known for his fast and technical drumming style, as well as his energetic live performances.
Abbott’s death was a major loss to the heavy metal community. He was a talented musician with a charismatic personality, and he will be remembered as one of the most influential drummers of his generation.
Today also marks the 22nd anniversary of the last time Pantera’s original line-up performed live in Philadelphia at the, then, First Union Center, part of the Extreme Steel Tour 2001. Slayer, Static-X, Skrape & Morbid Angel were also on the bill.
Pantera @ First Union Center (06.22.2001)
Hellbound
5 Minutes Alone
Slaughtered
Goddamn Electric
War Nerve
Becoming
Revolution Is My Name
Mouth for War
Strength Beyond Strength
I’ll Cast a Shadow
F*cking Hostile
This Love
Primal Concrete Sledge
Encore:
Cowboys From Hell
Walk
Pantera reformed with a new line-up in July of 2022 with Phil Anselmo on lead vocals, Rex Brown on Bass, Zakk Wylde on Guitar & Charlie Benante on Drums. They will be one of the opening acts on Metallica’s M72 World Tour here in the United States. We will also see them back through the area, part of an MMR Concert Event at the Freedom Mortgage Pavilion with Lamb of God on August 2nd, tickets are on sale now.
Photo by Brent Porche
These pictures were from the 2017 Rise Above Fest in Bangor, Maine put on by Shaun Morgan of Seether.
