Rough Edge: December 2004 News Archive

December 2004 Archive

...Atlantic Records has released the following:

DIMEBAG DARRELL PUBLIC MEMORIAL SERVICE AND FOUNDATIONS ANNOUNCED

A public memorial service for guitarist Dimebag Darrell will take place tomorrow night, December 14^th, at 8 p.m. at the Arlington Convention Center in Arlington, Texas.

For those people wishing to make a donation in Dimebag's name, two special memorial funds have been established. The Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund has been set up to cover bereavement and medical expenses for John "Kat" Brooks, Chris Paluska, and Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson. Please make checks payable to "The Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund". Donations can be sent to the mail-only address:

Dimebag Darrell Memorial Fund
110 SW Thomas
Burleson, TX 76028

A special fund has also been set up through VH1's Save The Music Foundation. Save The Music purchases new musical instruments to restore music education programs that have been cut due to budget reductions in the past or to save programs at risk of elimination due to lack of instruments. The Foundation also conducts awareness campaigns, musical instrument drives and fundraising events. Checks can be mailed to:

VH1 Save The Music Foundation
1515 Broadway, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10036

Or you can use your credit card and call 1-888-841-4687

Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed onstage last Wednesday night in Columbus, Ohio, just as his band, Damageplan, was beginning their performance. Also killed were the band's head of security, Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson, an employee of the club, Erin Halk, and a member of the audience, Nathan Bray.

Damageplan was formed in 2003 by Dimebag Darrell and his brother, Vinnie Paul, following the disbanding of their previous group, Pantera. Damageplan's debut album, "New Found Power," was released by Elektra Records in February 2004.

Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul were born and raised in Texas, the sons of country songwriter Jerry Abbott, who also owned a recording studio. The brothers formed Pantera in the early 1980s, going on to achieve multi-platinum stardom in the 1990s with their groundbreaking, uncompromising approach to metal music. They released a string of hugely influential albums, including the #1 charting "Far Beyond Driven" and three other top ten albums. The band earned four Grammy nominations.

...DAMAGEPLAN and Atlantic Records have released the following statement regarding the senseless shootings in Ohio:

As has been widely reported in the media, Elektra/Atlantic recording group Damageplan suffered a horrible tragedy at their show in Columbus, Ohio on Wednesday night. Guitarist Dimebag Darrell was shot and killed, as was the band’s head of security, Jeffrey “Mayhem” Thompson, an employee of the club, Erin Halk, and a member of the audience, Nathan Bray. Chris Paluska, a member of the band’s management team who was serving as tour manager, was shot and is in critical but stable condition. John “Kat” Brooks, the band’s drum tech, was also shot and is being released from the hospital today.

Damageplan made the following statements today:
“With all his greatness and accomplishments on the guitar, DIME will be missed more for his giving personality, charisma, caring for others, love and most of all his HEART!! Twice as big as the state of TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!! DIME gave it all everyday to each and every one of us and our lives have forever been hollowed without him...Thanks to all of you for reaching out to us in this time of our immeasurable loss. REST IN PEACE BROTHER DIME!!!!!!”
- Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul, brother of Dimebag Darrell

“Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson was not just a true part of the Damageplan family, but part of the whole Dallas music scene. He was friend to all, with a great personality. He bent over backward to help us all with his trademark phrases like "What can I do for you sir?" and "Coming up!" He also stated his willingness to protect us, saying "I'd take a bullet for ya," and unfortunately did in defense of our lives. He truly lived and died for his friends and made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life to save ours. For this we will never forget. You will be missed big man.”
- the Damageplan family

Atlantic Records issued the following statement:
“We are shocked and saddened by these horrible and senseless shootings. This is a tragic event for the music community, and our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims, their families, and the surviving members of Damageplan and their crew. Dimebag Darrell was an exceptional musician and an extraordinary person. Along with his brother and bandmate, Vinnie Paul, he was a member of the Elektra/Atlantic family for the past 14 years, and he will be deeply missed. The bravery displayed by Damageplan, their crew, their fans, and the local police will never be forgotten.”

...Fellow musicians comment on the pointless murder of DIMEBAG DARRELL and three others. For more comments, see www.damageplan.com...

Prophet - ST. MADNESS
       This is Prophet, vocalist for ST. MADNESS. First let me say that DIMEBAG DARRELL was one of the GREATEST metal guitarists that ever lived!!! He was a TRUE and PROUD AMERICAN!!!
       PANTERA will forever be THE METAL BAND OF THE 90s. If it wasn't for PANTERA and OZZY true metal would have completely disappeared from the forefront of the music world in the 1990's.
       DIMEBAG and VINNIE PAUL taught the metal community about UNITY and mutual love and respect between metal bands and their fans. It was always a party whenever PANTERA or DAMAGEPLAN were on stage!!
       DIMEBAG (to me) was the RANDY RHOADS of modern metal. GOD BLESS VINNIE, PAT AND BOB, AS WELL AS ALL THE CREW, AND FAMILIES OF DAMAGEPLAN.
       I pray for VINNIE PAUL, how devastated he must be, please remember him in your prayers as well. Metal fans all over the world will await with love and anticipation, for the day VINNIE PAUL returns behind his drums!!!
    MAY GOD BLESS, AND FOREVER KEEP THE SOUL OF THE GREAT DIMEBAG DARRELL IN HIS HEART FOR ALL ETERNITY!!!
    Sincerely,
    Prophet/St. Madness

Doug Sabolick – A LIFE ONCE LOST
"A sad fucking day for sure, some miserable 20-something fuck killed a legend. A man who inspired so many to rip and thrash. Pantera was and still is my favorite group and Dimebag was the one who inspired me the pick up the axe , the bottle and the joint and just fucking RIP! I remember being 13 years old and just blasting “Far Beyond Driven” all day long. Darrell was who I looked up to, someone who did things on his own terms and still succeeded! To the dumb fuck who did this I hope you rot in hell you miserable scumbag."

Phil Labonte - ALL THAT REMAINS
"I don't know what to say. The whole band is shocked our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone!"

Cory Brandon - NORMA JEAN
"I think it's insane and scary and most of all sad that this had to happen. How lame. Hearing about this sort of stuff pretty much pisses me off! Metal will miss that dude for sure. I liked him. RIP "Cowboy from Hell."

Dan Jacobs - ATREYU
"It's a sad day when being such a good guitar player can get you killed. Metal will never be the same."

Keith Buckley - EVERY TIME I DIE
" There are a lot of counterfactuals involved in senseless deaths like that of Dimebag's. What if it had been one of our shows. What if there are more people than we know capable of such atrocities. What if it had been me. But these "what-ifs" only come about after a period of reflection. The more sincere questions are the most immediate. Mine was this: "Why did Pantera break up in the first place."

Trevor - UNEARTH
"This is a sad day for Heavy Metal, Rock'n'roll and for all his family, friends and legion of fans around the world. Dimebag Darrell was one of the nicest and most genuine human beings all of us in Unearth have ever met. His presence, music and most of all his friendship will be dearly missed. Dime loved life, cared about people and was a true rock icon. Everything about him was admirable.
Our thoughts and hearts go out to his family and friends."

Ed Conroy - FULL BLOWN CHAOS
"That’s a idol and a legend gone for no reason. There is no reason for something like this to happen and it’s frightening to think if this could happen in the future if ,say, some crazed fan jumps on stage and does something like that at a full blown show. With Darrell, man, it’s just a waste of talent. People all over are just bummed out about it. Whether he was a friend or not, his influence can be heard all around music now."

Mark Morton - LAMB OF GOD
"Dime's music was a huge influence on me personally and on LAMB OF GOD as a whole. As a guitar player, he was a true innovator. His sound, tone and style shaped modern metal and his riffs are constantly referenced by nearly every band in metal, including my own. Only recently did I have the pleasure of hanging out with him on a personal level and he was as genuine and down to Earth as anyone you would ever meet. This is a huge loss to the music world."

Bobby C. - A LIFE ONCE LOST
"Not only was Dime progressive musician, his image and style of playing changed the face of metal to this day…Light one up in his memory."

..."DIMEBAG" DARRELL ABBOTT, legendary guitarist of PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN fame, was shot and killed by a hooded thug during a live performance at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, OH. The assailant climbed onstage and fired about sixteen shots at the band and into the crowd, killing Abbott and four others and wounding at least two more. A police officer called to the scene shot and killed the assailant. More as we know it...

...STRATA will have a song featured on the soundtrack to the upcoming film "Elektra," and will again take part in next year's Sno-Core tour with CHEVELLE, HELMET and more. For more information, check out www.stratadirect.com...

...ALTER BRIDGE will play the House of Blues in Orlando, FL on New Year's Eve...

...SLIPKNOT will begin a U.S. arena tour in March of 2005. Joining the band will be LAMB OF GOD and SHADOWS FALL, plus more. For more information, check out http://www.slipknot1.com...

...SIMPLE PLAN's new CD, "Still Not Getting Any," has been certified Gold just as their debut CD, "No Pads, No Helmets," was certified double platinum. For more information, visit www.simpleplan.com...

...DISORDERLY BY DESIGN are playing a Toys for Tots Charity Benefit Show on Friday, December 10th, beginning at 8PM. Also on the bill are MONGREL, DCM, SLEEP WALK, EDGEWISE and THRUST 13. For more information and for tickets visit www.disorderbydesign.com...

...PULSE8 will play the Southern Lanes with DETACHED and BENEATH THE SKY on December 10th. For more information, check out www.uwillpulse8.com...

...The End Records will release "Sardonic Wrath," the new CD by DARKTHRONE, on January 18th, 2005...

...TRIVIUM will release "Ascendancy," their Roadrunner debut CD, on March 1st, 2005...

...VREID have landed the opening slot on ENSLAVED's upcoming European tour. Vreid's new CD, "Kraft," will be released in the U.S. on January 25, 2005...

...February 22nd will mark the date of the U.S. release of ENTOMBED'S "Unreal Estate" through Candlelight Records. The CD is a live recording of the band's performance at Stockholm's Royal Opera Hall and is presented in a digipack with an elaborate picture book documenting the performance from rehearsal to final performance...

...ENSLAVED will release their new CD, "Isa," in the U.S. on February 8th, 2004. The U.S. pressing will contain bonus material not featured on the European release...

...MASTODON, whose CD, "Livathan," was named "Album of the Year" by Revolver magazine, are on tour in support of the release. Click here for tour dates...

...HIGH ON FIRE's new CD, "Blessed Black Wings," will be released on February 1, 2005...

...SABBAT's "Live Resurrection" CD will be available later this month. For more information, check out www.monsternation.se...

...OSMIUM will play The Pine Street Bar and Grill in Livermore, CA on Saturday, December 11th, 2004. For more information, check out www.pinestreetbarandgrill.com or www.osmium.net...

...Frontiers Records will soon release "The Usual Suspects," the new studio CD by JOE LYNN TURNER, featuring such guests as Al Pitrelli (Megadeth, Savatage) and Karl Cochran (Ace Frehley) on guitar, David Z on bass, John O'Reilly on drums, Paul Morris and Andy Burton on keyboards with Nancy Bender joining in on background vocals....

...Rocker JD Bradshaw has picked up endorsements from U.S. Music Corp (makers of Washburn and Randall guitars) and has joined a classic rock band called SNEAK PREVIEW. For more information, check out http://acacia_entertainment.tripod.com...

...FAST EDDIE have signed with Skinlifter Records. The band is currently at work on their upcoming CD, due in February or March 2005. For more information, check out www.skinlifterrecords.com or www.eddieisfast.com...

...INTENTIONAL RAGE will open for METAL CHURCH on Saturday, December 11th at the Press Box in Anaheim, CA. The band has just released their new CD, "The Price of Freedom." For more information, check out http://www.intentionalrage.com...

...TUB RING is looking for a new drummer. Interested? First, are you qualified: The band asks that "you must be an amazing drummer, be available for practice in Chicago-land, and be up for touring non-stop. That's IT!!! Tub Ring don't care if you: got a drug problem, a sex addiction, owe money to the IRS, girl, boy, pygmy, baby's daddy, whatever... we don't discriminate." Still interested? E-mail tubring@usa.net for more information...

...THE LIMIT will play Toad's Place in New Haven, CT, on Friday, December 10th. The band is performing in support of their new CD. For more information, check out www.TheLimitMusic.com...

...CANDLEMASS have been added to the already incredible line up for the tenth anniversary of the BANG YOUR HEAD festival. For more information, check out http://www.bang-your-head.de...

...FL will play a free show at The Roxy in Hollywood on December 21st in support of "Toys for Tots." Although the show is free, the band suggests that guests bring a toy along to the show for the "Toys for Tots" program. For more information, check out http://www.fltheband.com...

...On March 1st, 2005, Roadrunner Records will release an expanded special edition of their new CRADLE OF FILTH CD, "Nymphetamine." The new package will include a second disc containing two new tracks, three cover tunes, two remixes and a video track...

...Dates have been announced for next year's Candlelight Label Tour, featuring ENTOMBED, CROWBAR, PRO-PAIN and THE MIGHTY NIMBUS. Click here for tour dates...

...DEADSOIL are joining up with REFLUX, CALICO SYSTEM and THE WARRIORS for a U.S. tour. Click here for tour dates...

...The legendary NAPALM DEATH have just completed their North America tour in support of their new CD, "Leaders Not Followers: Part 2." Says the band's vocalist Barney Greenway:" We would like to send out a hearty thanks to everyone who came out to support us on the U.S. tour. It was a really funny old time being there for the elections and seeing the sadly inevitable result, which I think gave us more of an incentive to try and rock like bastards. It wouldn't be an understatement to say that we had a truly fantastic time, and for us it bodes well for coming back on another tour sometime in the first half of next year. Peace, tolerance and respect."...

...THE SHOCKER will play Alex's Bar (http://www.alexsbar.com) in Long Beach on Thursday, December 16th. The band has added several songs to their setlist, including "Pop Narcotic" "Dumb Down" and "Cash In." The band is also covering Ice-T's "Body Count"...

...LAST AUTUMN'S DREAM's "II" will be released on January 24th, 2005. MP3 samples can be found on the following links: www.frontiers.it/lad2-brandnewlife.mp3; www.frontiers.it/lad2-losinyou.mp3; www.frontiers.it/lad2-helpless.mp3...

..."Soul Mover," the new CD by GLENN HUGHES, will be released on January 24th, 2005. Samples can be found on the following links: www.frontiers.it/gh-soulmover.mp3; www.frontiers.it/gh-highroad.mp3; www.frontiers.it/gh-shemovesghostly.mp3...

...DREAMLIKE HORROR have signed with Sleaszy Rider and will release their debut, "Delightful Suicides," on March 15th, 2005...

...HANNIBAL, the new band of Alex "Hannibal" Balakakis (ex-Power Crue and Spitfire) have also signed a deal with Sleaszy Rider and will release their CD, "This is U" on January 15, 2005...

...Marten Anderson, bassplayer for such bands as LIZZY BORDEN, STARWOOD, GEORGE LYNCH GROUP, LEGACY and more, has issued the following newsletter announcement:

Hey Everybody!! I am checking in from Stockholm, Sweden. I had the opportunity to attend the kick off party for next years "Swedish Rock Festival" this weekend. Let me tell you, there is some big time hardcore metal heads here. There were 2000 people cramped in this small club and another 600 people standing outside in the freezing snowy weather, trying to get in. I had a quick meeting with the promoter of the festival, hopefully we get the opportunity to play this festival, it would be so cool. This is not only one of the biggest hardrock festivals in Europe who always have great bands on the bill but it's also somewhat of a homecoming for me.

Speaking of live shows, as you might know we kicked off the Starwood live show at the House of Blues/Los Angeles (with UFO) a couple of weeks ago. Thanks to all our friends that showed up.

We are starting the filming of the second Starwood video very shortly. This time its for the song "All My Girlfriends have Boyfriends". We are also doing another live show in Los Angeles in a couple of weeks. (more info coming soon).

I am doing a bass clinic in Stockholm this week. If there are any crazy maniacs who want to attend the clinic check out the website at www.marten.cc for more info...

...Grace Williams, owner of Ragin' Grace Records, will join HOWARD STERN ON December 2nd to discuss the new CD by GRIZ. Griz himself will play Arelene's Grocery in New York City on December 4th. In other Griz news, the cajun rocker will be featured on the cover of the Spring issue of 22nd Century Rock Magazine...

...CHEMICAL BURN will release their full-length debut CD in early 2005. Says the bands singer/bassist Mike Garnica: "CB will continue to take it to the next level using all of our individual influences to bring as much energy to every show. One show had girls dancing on the right and guys moshing on the left. The groove is the key." Adds guitarist John Carek: "Mike has a great intuitive sense for writing songs and riffs. Chris is very creative in coming up with intricate drum patterns that still groove." For more information, check out www.chemicalburnmusic.com...

...GRAVE DIGGER will release their new CD, "The Last Supper," on January 17th, 2005. According to the band, the new CD has "more metal, more passion and more power" than the previous GRAVE DIGGER releases...

...GODS are currently in the studio recording their debut CD. The new CD is due in March of 2005. The band begins touring with the HxCmp3 tour at the beginning of next year. Click here for tour dates...

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