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You are here: Home / 2004 / “Dime was an

original, he deserves the original” —Eddie Van
Halen on Dimebag Darrell

“Dime was an original,

he deserves the
original” —Eddie Van
Halen on Dimebag
Darrell
December 8, 2014—by VHND — 170 Comments

The great “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott

was tragically shot dead onstage
while performing on Dec. 8th, 2004
with Damageplan at the Alrosa Villa
in Columbus, Ohio.

This is the story of why

Dimebag’s last words were “Van
Halen!”, and how he was buried with
the guitar that inspired him most —
Eddie Van Halen’s yellow and black
striped Charvel hybrid guitar
featured on the back cover of Van
Halen II.
Dimebag’s death was a horrible moment for
anyone attached to the electric guitar in any
capacity. Dimebag had been a member of
Pantera for over twenty years with his brother
Vinnie Paul, and had racked up an impressive
portfolio of gold and platinum albums while
continually speaking his adulation of Eddie Van
Halen. During the lean era of the 1990s, Pantera
kept concerts Slled with faithful hard rock fans
eager for guitar solos.

The funeral
Eddie Van Halen appeared at Dimebag’s
memorial service. He held his cell phone to the
mic and played a voicemail Dimebag had left
him days earlier. “Thank you so much, man for
the most awesome, uplifting, euphoric, spiritual
rock and roll extravaganza ever,” Dimebag’s
recorded message said.

Edward said, “I’m here for the same reason as

everyone else, to give some love back…” and
also “…this guy was full of life. He lived and
breathed rock ‘n’ roll…”.

Zakk Wylde (former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist

& Black Label Society) and Eddie shared the
stage, downing shots of liquor delivering
tributes about their fellow guitarist at the public
memorial service.

In a lasting sign of deep respect, Eddie buried

the black-and-yellow tape-striped guitar pictured
on the back cover of Van Halen II with Darrell.

Darrell’s life partner, Rita Haney, spoke with

Billboard today about Edward’s gift to
her longtime companion:

“ What was the story of Eddie

Van Halen bringing the guitar to
Dimebag’s funeral?

I remember talking with Vinnie,

trying to decide what guitar to bury
him with. Three hours later, Eddie
called to see if he could do anything
for us and for Dime. We’d met him
just a few weeks earlier for the Srst
time, and Dime was ready to cut him
a $30,000 check that night for one of
his striped guitars, but Eddie told
him he’d do one special for him. So I
asked him if he’d stripe up a guitar
for Darrell. He said, “One of the red,
white and black ones?” And I said,
“No — Darrell always said that the
yellow and black was your toughest
guitar!”

When he came for the funeral, he

brought his original yellow and black
from 1979. He said, “An original
should have an original.”

We were walking down the hallway

of the funeral parlor, me, Eddie and
John “Bushman,” who had been out
with Damageplan as a tech — he’s
the one who dragged Vinnie off the
drum stand and threw himself on
top of him to protect him. We got to
the room where Dime was, and you
could see [Abbott’s] feet through the
doorway. Eddie said, “I can’t go in
there, I can’t see him like that — I
want to remember him like he was
that night I met him.” I said, “That’s
okay, Eddie — we’ll take it to him,” so
John and I went in and placed it with
him.

Da
te
k

r
ac
BL

ti
Socie
Eddie and Zakk Wylde salute their friend

In an interview with Metal Monthly, Rita

explained further: “We had just seen Van Halen
in Midland, Texas, a few weeks earlier, and that
was the Srst time Dime ever got to meet Eddie.
They hung out before and after the show. Dime
even got to play Eddie’s rig at soundcheck. He
was like a kid in a candy store — the way his
eyes were lit up. He told me later in the limo —
which Van Halen provided — ‘How cool is that?
Anyway, he leaned over and looked me right in
the eyes and said, “If I died tonight, it wouldn’t
matter, ’cause I’ve done everything now, I’ve met
Eddie Van Halen!” and he had the biggest smile
on his face… he was so happy!

“When Ed came in at the viewing, he had the

guitar, but it wasn’t the guitar we expected… he
told Vinnie and I that “Dime was an original and
only an original deserves the original!” He
popped open the case and there it was… his
original ’79 still with the rusted set of strings on
it! It was so amazing!!! I took it in to Dime and I
said, “See, baby, you didn’t get a replica! You got
THE one,” and I gave him a kiss on the forehead
and place it in there with him… Ed was awesome
and I thank him still!”

Van Halen’s impact on

Dimebag
Van Halen’s impact on Dimebag’s playing is
unmistakable. The “vibe” of early Van Halen is by
far the most recognizable inluence in
Dimebag’s playing. From the grooving rhythms
played like leads of their own, to the tone, to the
phrasing in his lead playing, Dimebag took the
inspiration of Edward Van Halen and forged his
own identity.

Pieces such as “Eruption” and “Spanish Fly”

were favorites of Dimebag, who would play
them in his unaccompanied guitar solos back in
Pantera’s early club days.

Dime has been noted as being Texas’ “Van

Halen clone,” the local hotshot who could play
all of the most impressive licks of his hero.
Further, the brotherly bond of the Van Halen
brothers (Eddie on guitar and Alex on drums)
was mirrored in Pantera (Vinnie on drums and
Dime on guitar).

To truly understand Dimebag’s playing, it is

crucial to absorb the “Van Halen” feel, as well as
the techniques and attention to tone that were
such a part of the early Van Halen experience.

Dimebag on Eddie:

“ “Lead guitar has been blown

up in the past but there was a
reason for it. You had badass
dudes like Eddie Van Halen.
He plays ‘Eruption’ and you go,
‘Shit! I never heard a guitar
sound like that in my life.’ He
was to our generation what
Hendrix was to his.”
“I’ve never learned more than
two or three solos by any
player I was always after
getting the vibe of the player,
especially Van Halen. I still
listen to Eddie before I go
onstage, to get some of the
spontaneity and liveness of his
playing.”

Dimebag’s last words

Van Halen’s impact is further felt as the words
“Van Halen!” were actually Dimebag’s last words
spoken before he was tragically murdered. “Van
Halen” was something Dime would say to his
brother Vinnie before a live performance to
inspire them both to play a fun, lively, rocking
show.

Michael Anthony’s
statement:
Van Halen ex-bassist Michael Anthony posted
the following message on his website upon
hearing the sad news:

“We were very saddened and angered to hear of

the shooting that took place in Columbus, OH
last week that took the life of a friend and fellow
musician, Dimebag Darrell Abbott.

“It was only a few weeks ago that Dime and

Vinnie Paul joined us backstage to do some
Jack shots while we were in Wichita on the last
leg of the Van Halen summer tour.

“It lat-out sucks that something like this could

happen to someone who just wanted to get up
on stage and play guitar.

“Our sincerest condolences to Dime’s wife Rita,

his brother Vinnie and all of the Abbott family.
Darrell will be missed.”

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Best Newest Oldest

Guest − ⚑
G 9 years ago edited

RIP Dime.

Texas' best. Never to be forgotten.

⛺ View

47 Reply • Share ›

This comment was deleted.

−
This comment was deleted.
−
kingdiamond >
… Guest − ⚑
9 years ago edited

Might have clicked reply off of one of your

posts the question was directed at the article
not you Im sure

2 Reply • Share ›

incoherent response guy… − ⚑

9 years ago

Actually zakk wylde recorded multiple solos

for the damage plan new found power album.

0 Reply • Share ›

Ichiban Saru > − ⚑ guy

… incoherent response
9 years ago

But, Dime still wasn't a member of BLS as the

article claimed.

2 Reply • Share ›

Bill46260 > Guest − ⚑

7 years ago

The best from Texas? Stevie Ray Vaughan

would like a word with you about that.

3 Reply • Share ›

Guest − ⚑
G 9 years ago

Man they 10 years have gone quick,there,s always

stories about Ed being a dick to people and he
probably has,but to give something so
unique/ingrained in rock fokelore an iconic looking
instrument to a person/family at such a time
speaks volumes. If there's an afterlife Dimes got
an awesome axe to play with.

22 Reply • Share ›

✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ ᵃᶜᶜᵒᵘᶰᵗ…⚑
ReverendDraco✓ −
9 years ago

If there's a Rock & Roll Heaven. . . you fuckin ' A

know they got a hell of a band. . .

7 Reply • Share ›

jetblast190 > − ⚑ ᵃᶜᶜᵒ

… ReverendDraco✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ
9 years ago

Sounds like a place I'd like to be, someday.

2 Reply • Share ›

Michael Sillaman > − ⚑

… jetblast190
9 years ago

Nah, you're on the Highway to Hell.

1 Reply • Share ›

jetblast190 > −
… Michael Sillaman ⚑
9 years ago

Love that one too!

0 Reply • Share ›

Joe1909 > − ⚑ ᵃᶜᶜ

… ReverendDraco✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ
6 years ago

No rock 'n' roll heaven because there is no

heaven

0 Reply • Share ›

ReverendDraco✓ ⚑…
✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ ᵃᶜᶜᵒᵘᶰᵗ −
6 years ago

The non-existence of the latter does not

necessarily negate the existence of the
former.

1 Reply • Share ›

492
Joe1909 > − ⚑ ᵃᶜᶜ
… ReverendDraco✓ᵛᵉʳᶦᶠᶦᵉᵈ
6 years ago
Shares
1