# Heavy Metal Guitar Legend gunned down on stage **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [December 9, 2004, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943 "2004-12-09T16:45:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/21 "2004-12-09T19:14:05Z")
> [@andros](#): > > But the joke was funny. I’m sorry you’re offended, but sometimes the only thing we can do in the face of death is laugh. I’m probably overly-sensitive today. That whole punch-in-the-stomach feeling hasn’t gone away yet, so maybe when it does I’ll get my sense of humor back. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/22 "2004-12-09T19:15:14Z")
I meant to lighten up a depressing thread. I’m a consumate smartass. Sorry if I offended anyone. If anyone needs me, I’ll be over in the deadpool thread. ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/23 "2004-12-09T19:15:36Z")
Here’s a link to current industry articles and information on DD’s death: [http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/8302/tempidx/1/menuid/1](http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/link/1/templateid/8302/tempidx/1/menuid/1) Sam ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/24 "2004-12-09T19:16:14Z")
> [@Indygrrl](#): > > I’m probably overly-sensitive today. That whole punch-in-the-stomach feeling hasn’t gone away yet, so maybe when it does I’ll get my sense of humor back. I hear ya. ---
**Author:** ![Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misery_Loves_Co)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/25 "2004-12-09T19:20:43Z")
Though as I reflect on it (10 seconds later), that maggotpoison’s likely done Darrel the service of elevating him to the same beatified status as Randi Rhodes, SRV, and Chris Burton. Before he was a talented musician with a huge following. Now he’s a demi-god. Small consolation, I know, but he went out suddenly and shockingly. It would have ultimately been more tragic to see him fade away. (doesn’t change what I said in my previous post, though.) ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/26 "2004-12-09T19:48:59Z")
> [@Misery Loves Co.](#): > > Though as I reflect on it (10 seconds later), that maggotpoison’s likely done Darrel the service of elevating him to the same beatified status as Randi Rhodes, SRV, and Chris Burton. Before he was a talented musician with a huge following. Now he’s a demi-god. > > Small consolation, I know, but he went out suddenly and shockingly. It would have ultimately been more tragic to see him fade away. > > (doesn’t change what I said in my previous post, though.) This is kind of the way I’ve had to look at it to keep from being totally depressed about it. I figured hey, at least he went out in a blaze instead of dead in a puddle of his own vomit. Sam ---
**Author:** ![MysteryFellow63427](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e4f/32.png) [@MysteryFellow63427](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MysteryFellow63427)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/27 "2004-12-09T19:59:21Z")
> [@Misery Loves Co.](#): > > elevating him to the same beatified status as Randi Rhodes, SRV, and Chris Burton. I think you mean **Cliff** Burton (formerly of Metallica.) ---
**Author:** ![Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misery_Loves_Co)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/28 "2004-12-09T20:00:01Z")
Hey! Lots of great musicians have died in a puddle of their own vomit! But can you imagine Darrel ending his days in an Old Folk’s Home, lugging a collostomy bag around? Or showing up on some “Where are they now?” segment? ---
**Author:** ![Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misery_Loves_Co)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/29 "2004-12-09T20:01:55Z")
> [@neuroman](#): > > I think you mean **Cliff** Burton (formerly of Metallica.) Damn. Now I’m going to have to get a new desk, as I just beat my head through my old one. I’m going to go slink off in shame now, though I plead “Cold Medication” on that slip up. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/30 "2004-12-09T20:16:17Z")
I don’t know how real Pantera fans feel about it (not as heavy as some of their other stuff) but I think \*Cemetary Gates \* is one of the best songs ever with a fantastic guitar riff. Just for that, he will be missed. ---
**Author:** ![catsix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e19b73/32.png) [@catsix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/catsix)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/31 "2004-12-09T20:28:16Z")
How bout the security man who, by all rights, is a hero and died as one for charging into a dangerous situation in an attempt to save lives? What’s his name? ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/32 "2004-12-09T20:41:41Z")
Jeff Thompson, a/k/a “Mayhem,” the longtime security guy for Pantera/Damageplan. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/33 "2004-12-09T20:53:04Z")
Though I kinda outgrew Pantera (plus, my wife _hates_ that stuff), but this truly bummed me right the fuck out. I dunno if this is a fair rant, but how the fuck did he get in there with a loaded gun? Don’t they pad folks down at these kind of shows? Hello? Homeland security? Stupid nutters with guns. Fuck. Fuck fuckity fuck. This fucking blows. RIP Dimebag. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/34 "2004-12-09T21:07:16Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > It feels so lame to lament the passing of someone I never knew, but I’m pretty broken up by all this. > > Sam ☹ You’re a good man bro. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/35 "2004-12-09T21:36:35Z")
> [@minty green](#): > > Jeff Thompson, a/k/a “Mayhem,” the longtime security guy for Pantera/Damageplan. That’s not the same guy as Pantera’s old security guard “Big Val”, is it? ---
**Author:** ![FinnAgain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/finnagain/32/12500_2.png) [@FinnAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FinnAgain)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/36 "2004-12-09T21:46:17Z")
Same day John Lennon was shot. Weird world. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/37 "2004-12-09T21:49:16Z")
Dunno. I got the names “Jeff” and “Mayhem” and his job description off local radio this morning, and the wire reports this afternoon name “Jeff Thompson” as the fourth person killed. That’s all the info I’ve got. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/38 "2004-12-09T21:52:30Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t know how real Pantera fans feel about it (not as heavy as some of their other stuff) but I think \*Cemetary Gates \* is one of the best songs ever with a fantastic guitar riff. Just for that, he will be missed. One of the first thoughyts which came to my mind after hearing about this was the recollection of walking down the hall to my practice space and hearing a lone guitar from another band’s room squealing out the riff to “Cemetary Gates.” It was echoing through the hall in a really haunting way as the guy was tring to get those pinch harmonics just right. I remember thinking “Fuck, that’s a cool riff. I should learn that.” I went into my practice space and the rest of my band wasn’t there yet so I picked up my guitar and worked out the riff. It was just one of those riffs that’s really satisfying to play even though it’s not particularly fast or difficult. It just gets your rocks off when you nail the harmonics just right and you get that little bit of feedback and you’re making that “fuck you” metal face (It’s impossible to play Pantera songs without making the faces). It’s a near perfect expression of the metal sensibility. DD had a lot of riffs like that. He just seemed to knock them out like breathing. He had a groove to his style- a rhythmic sense that just oozed cool. He was one of a kind. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/39 "2004-12-09T21:56:52Z")
I’m trying to fathom the concept of Diogenes as a Pantera fan. It’s not working. ---
**Author:** ![Greathouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greathouse/32/2992_2.png) [@Greathouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Greathouse)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/40 "2004-12-09T22:15:08Z")
For anybody who wants to watch it: > [@On MTV's web site](#): > > For much more on Dimebag Darrell’s life, music and influence, tune in to a special edition of “Headbangers Ball” premiering Saturday night at 10 p.m. ET on MTV2. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943.md?page=3)