Tim Blair

Holy crap. I haven't listened to them in years, but they are in large part responsible for my tinnitus. Damn, man. Dimebag, R.I.P.

Argh, just give the link to the wikipedia entry tim, it's up to date and doesn't have any nuisance ads either.

this brings that whole gun control thing into focus doesnt it. r.i.p darrell.

And so

Tim, are you a metal fan? because that'd make me love you even more.

First Hookesy now Dimebag. Pretty soon all my idols are going to be pushing up the daisies.

Jeez. His guitarwork on "revolution is my name' is legendary stuff.

It's horrid that happened. At least the murderer didn't get away.

"this brings that whole gun control thing into focus doesnt it"

People who are outside the law, like criminals, are not prevented from getting guns by gun control laws.

I am very surprised, in this day and age of metal detectors and searches, that someone was able to enter this nightclub with a gun.

Far out, the poor sod. I used to listen to a lot of Pantera when I was young and carefree about my ears.

I saw Dime at a show about three weeks ago in Minneapolis. He was having a fucking blast...there was a five minute stretch where it was nothing but him on stage with a spotlight on him. He did some unbelievable things with the whammy bar, and the man's neckwork was just sick. Me and my friend had a killer view from the balcony, right in front of him. They closed with the Pantera favorite "Walk" and "Becoming". That show is now one that'll be forever ingrained into my mind.

I was lucky enough to see Dime play with Pantera and with Damageplan. RIP, metal brother.

I am very surprised, in this day and age of metal detectors and searches, that someone was able to enter this nightclub with a gun.

I've been to roughly 30 metal shows over the past year, and can count on one hand how many I got patted down at. Most smaller clubs (including where I saw Damageplan three weeks ago) don't bother. Big civic centers are the only ones that people get patted down at from my experience.

What is the point in having metal detectors at a heavy metal gig?

To see who's piercings where?

I'm sure that their record company will offer their condolences by tastefully rushing out a 'lost sessions' record in time for Christmas.

A fine guitarist but, for mine, best remembered for his appearances on ‘The Bob Newhart Show’.

I live in Columbus and have been to the venue where this took place more than once. It has been around forever and doesn't have a reputation for trouble. Although details are still sketchy, the coverage in this morning's edition of The Columbus Dispatch seems to indicate that the shooter was attempting to murder the entire band. Evidently he forced his way in through a back door and got past a security guard, then walked up on stage and began shooting at band members. Although unconfirmed, it appears that at least on other member of the band was shot and wounded. The name of the gunman has not been released, nor have police speculated as to a motive.

This is a great tragedy for the entire metal community. Never a big fan of Pantera me (well their first big one was good) and not that familiar with Damageplan. I tend to go for more intricate metal myself. However, the live scene will dearly miss this lot as they give good show.

At least the bastard who did this has been shot dead.

This is a shocking tragedy. Dimebag Darrell was a guitar legend and Pantera were metal kings well before they were "discovered". It is sickening to think that the man is gone.

RIP Dimebag. Enjoy your jam sessions with Randy Rhodes and Jimi Hendrix up there in the sky.

jeesh, what a horror. my sympathies to all their families.

A small nitpick: Pantera were a thrash metal band, not death metal.
As for the news itself, i was never a fan of Pantera, but still, sad to hear he died in such a terrible way.

This is horrible. What a tragic event. My fiance is a death metal musician and he's very depressed over this. Not just because of the loss of the very talented Dimebag Derrell, but because this could generate the 80's-style hysterics over heavy metal again. Sure, the shooter was a psycho who had nothing to do with the band, but events like this just give those who consider metal "evil" more fuel for their fire. This could make venues less likely to want to host bands like Damageplan.

In most Philly clubs, you can't get anywhere near the venue without getting patted down by 2 or 3 refrigerator-sized guys. They do everything short of a full-body cavity search at the Troc. Hard to believe that there was no kind of security of that type here.

The other band member who died is reputed to be Vinny Paul, the drummer and Dimebag's brother. This hasn't been confirmed yet, though. A sad day indeed...

I lived pretty close to it not long ago, still live within a couple of miles. Been there a couple of times and never had a problem.

Columbus is normally a quiet city but has seen some strange things lately such as the outerbelt sniper. Must be something in the water...

I loved the work Dimebag did with Anthrax, but was never a fan of Pantera or Damageplan. If hip hop can still have award shows then this shouldn't have any impact on the metal genre. "Shouldn't" being the operative word.

The only thing that has me concerned is the inevitable use of this incident to push for more gun control laws.

A heavy metal lead guitarist friend who knew Abbott told me he thinks this could be related to the anniversary of Lennon's murder.

Not the way I wanted my current town to make your blog, Tim. (Election items I don't mind...) Back in the day, I went to the venue a few times. From the local reports, security isn't much tighter now than then and according to the local police it's not considered a trouble spot. The shooter sounds like a nut case but his motivation remains unknown.

As for your comments Guy from Ohio, I'd observe that Columbus is now the 15th largest city in the US and the metro population is inching towards 2 million. With that come all the problems of any major city. Sad to say.

There's a bunch of stuff on Google News. The fucking psycho moron's name was Nathan Gale, and he shot Dimebag 5 or 6 times before turning the gun on the other band members and then the crowd. Jesus Christ.

And according to Rolling Stone, he did so "after making a statement about the breakup of Pantera." I wish they hadn't killed him, so I could do it myself.

Like most crimes, not only horrible but stupid. Did the dimbulb think he would reunite Pantera by killing its guitarist? What a damned waste. My condolences to the family and to metal fans everywhere.

Great Southern Trendkill tour at the Sydney entertainment Centre, still the best concert I have ever been to.

Vale Dimebag

you have to admit, he went in one of the most metal ways possible - shot onstage while rocking out.

I live in Columbus and go to the Alrosa. It's normally not a violent place. Nathan Gale (the shooter) was just crazy. We all went to school with him in Marysville.
I'm am deeply hurt by all of this. I grew up on Pantera. And I'm going to miss Dime. Thank God that the police did get there in time befire Nathan killed anymore people. My heart goes out to Dime's family and friends. My heart also goes out to Rick Catuela who owns the Alrosa and his family and all of the other victims of the shooting, and all of the fans who are feeling this loss.I also will keep all of the people who watched all of this and are replaying it over and over in their minds. We had a makeshift memorial for all of the victims Thursday night at the Alrosa...Thanks to all of you who came and offered your thoughts and prayers.
R.I.P Dime
R.I.P victims of the Alrosa shooting.
Columbus is deeply sorry for being part of this.
God Bless you all.

I live in Columbus and go to the Alrosa. It's normally not a violent place. Nathan Gale (the shooter) was just crazy. We all went to school with him in Marysville.
I'm am deeply hurt by all of this. I grew up on Pantera. And I'm going to miss Dime. Thank God that the police did get there in time befire Nathan killed anymore people. My heart goes out to Dime's family and friends. My heart also goes out to Rick Catuela who owns the Alrosa and his family and all of the other victims of the shooting, and all of the fans who are feeling this loss.I also will keep all of the people who watched all of this and are replaying it over and over in their minds. We had a makeshift memorial for all of the victims Thursday night at the Alrosa...Thanks to all of you who came and offered your thoughts and prayers.
R.I.P Dime
R.I.P victims of the Alrosa shooting.
Columbus is deeply sorry for being part of this.
God Bless you all.

What a sad fuckin' thing! I believe in gun control but I'm glad the cop shot the guy who did this. I hope he burns in hell. Justice served as far as I'm concerned.

Dime! If you're listening up there man! Thanks for the great music and being one of the coolest, down-to-earth guys in music. You gave a lot to all of us. You will be missed! Take a pull, buddy! You earned it.

R.I.P. DB!

I will never forget Dimebag or what he did for music in general. He set the sandard,and no matter what anybody says they can't take that from him. He was loved by many and addmired even more. My heart goes out to his family and friends, I am so sorry for your loss. Be gratefull for the time we had and the memories. "DIMEBAG" Darrell Abbot will never be forgot. We will miss you....CORY

FOREVER STONGER THAN ALL....R.I.P...DIME

I'm from Columbus as well and also am a patron regularly at the Al Rosa, and was planning on seeing Hatebreed the 21st there but that's pending if they reopen it by then, and I still can't believe what happened. This truly is a black eye for metal, and our city. I just know there was a higher power looking out for me since I wasn't there and there's good chance I could've been there. As far as "The Rock N Roll Reverend" Rick goes, I hope he doesn't get sued for all this since they should've started searches after the two shootings in the last couple months and the time the guy had the knife in the pit. But still after all that I never really felt unsafe there still. Hopefully after all this they will take the security measures needed so nothing like this can happen again.
RIP Dimebag and the other 3 victims
R.I.H. Nathan Gale....R.I.H.

Does anybody here know what the first successful heavy metal song was? Mabey I'm being sentimental but I think metal owes a great deal to "Revolution" by the Beatles (1966), mostly John Lennon, R.I.P. I read that this happenned on the aniversary of his murder. Interesting.

Who gives a rats ass about Lennon, that was a long time ago. Yes, he set many standards that will long live, but, comparing Lennon and Dimebag is apples and ornges, to say the least. We, that is all heavy metal fans, have been dealt a great blow here. I for one will never forget this, and as an inspiring guitar player get over it. Unlike previous comments, I wish the asshole shooter would have lived so we could torture him untill we got the full story, then we could have started slicing off body parts from there. Anyway this a though from a true Pantera from in Dayton, Ohio. Again sorry for EVEYONE'S loss.

im still recovering from the shocking news that one of my idols died. i havent cried that hard for a long time. "r.i.p dimebag" is written on my hand and will soon be tatooed as soon as i get down to vegas so my sister can tat it for me. R.I.P DIME!! we miss you! ill see u up there one day....

fans on N-SYNC, please show some initiative at the next justin timberlake concert.