# 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:** 3
**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, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/41 "2004-12-09T22:16:20Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I’m trying to fathom the concept of Diogenes as a Pantera fan. It’s not working. Really? I spent years in a speed metal band. I played guitar, sang and wrote the tunes. I used to love Metallica, Slayer, Pantera and the like. I literally had hair down to my ass. Then I met my wife and went to college and got a haircut and became a dad and got old but there was a phase of my life in which I was the stereotypical metalhead. ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/42 "2004-12-09T22:17:10Z")
Holy shit. I’m not into metal so I don’t know anything about this guy, but it’s sad and scary for live music fans to think that there are loonies like that in the audience. That and the Station fire in RI, but luckily, since I’m in RI, the fire regulations have been made stricter (or at least been enforced more) since then. But what the hell are you going to do about nuts with guns, pat everyone down or have metal detectors as you walk into a club? ---
**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, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/43 "2004-12-09T22:21:24Z")
> [@Already in Use](#): > > Holy shit. I’m not into metal so I don’t know anything about this guy, but it’s sad and scary for live music fans to think that there are loonies like that in the audience. That and the Station fire in RI, but luckily, since I’m in RI, the fire regulations have been made stricter (or at least been enforced more) since then. But what the hell are you going to do about nuts with guns, pat everyone down or have metal detectors as you walk into a club? I think pat downs and metal detectors would be a good idea. Hell, **every** stadium concert I’ve ever been to, I had to walk through a metal detector. I don’t see why they wouldn’t have you do it just because it is a smaller venue. Hell, at least have a wand to run over people to a basic level of checking. ---
**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, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/44 "2004-12-09T22:31:03Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Really? > > I spent years in a speed metal band. I played guitar, sang and wrote the tunes. I used to love Metallica, Slayer, Pantera and the like. I literally had hair down to my ass. Then I met my wife and went to college and got a haircut and became a dad and got old but there was a phase of my life in which I was the stereotypical metalhead. Somehow I always knew this. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Rock-n-Rolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/22d042/32.png) [@Rock-n-Rolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rock-n-Rolga)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/45 "2004-12-09T22:48:58Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > That’s not the same guy as Pantera’s old security guard “Big Val”, is it? Nope, Jeff “Mayhem” Thompson was a different guy than Val. Not really sure what Val is doing - if he’s working for Phil these days or what. Not to sound like a consumate namedropper, but I hung out with Damageplan in DC on Thanksgiving Day and the day after. Within two minutes of being introduced to each other, Mayhem and I launched right into a serious in-depth politically-based conversation which continued right through our T-day dinner and beyond. He was warm, jovial, straightforward, funny, a proud Texan and overall a good man who died in the line of duty, trying to protect his friends. So sad to think we won’t get to hang out again. I was really looking forward to their next tour, now there’s no telling what the surviving members will do, but their world must be totally upside down right now. Poor Vinnie’s going to be lost without his little bro sharing the stage with him… ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Already\_in\_Use](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9adbd/32.png) [@Already\_in\_Use](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Already_in_Use)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/46 "2004-12-09T22:52:01Z")
> [@Greathouse](#): > > I think pat downs and metal detectors would be a good idea. Hell, **every** stadium concert I’ve ever been to, I had to walk through a metal detector. I don’t see why they wouldn’t have you do it just because it is a smaller venue. Hell, at least have a wand to run over people to a basic level of checking. Well yeah, I think they’ve had wands or something at some dance club I went to. So it’s not unrealistic. But sort of sad that it might have to happen. ---
**Author:** ![Vindi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ee59a6/32.png) [@Vindi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vindi)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/47 "2004-12-09T23:02:20Z")
Drops her ticket to Twisted X-Mas Concert into a pool of tears Damn-it. Why? ---
**Author:** ![ninetypercent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9de0a6/32.png) [@ninetypercent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ninetypercent)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2004, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/48 "2004-12-09T23:30:56Z")
This happened \<10 miles from my house. Weird. I’m glad I wasn’t there when it happened. ---
**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, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/49 "2004-12-09T23:41:55Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Really? > > I spent years in a speed metal band. I played guitar, sang and wrote the tunes. I used to love Metallica, Slayer, Pantera and the like. I literally had hair down to my ass. Then I met my wife and went to college and got a haircut and became a dad and got old but there was a phase of my life in which I was the stereotypical metalhead. So does that mean that when my wife gets pregnant and we have kids I’ll just be an old cranky metalhead like you? 😃 Sam ---
**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, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/50 "2004-12-09T23:47:49Z")
> [@GaWd](#): > > So does that mean that when my wife gets pregnant and we have kids I’ll just be an old cranky metalhead like you? 😃 > > Sam Unfortunately, yes. ☹ [Grandpa Simpson] I used to young and with it, but now what I’m with isn’t _“it”_…and what _is_ “it” seems scary and weird to me. It’ll happen to yooouuuuu… [/Grandpa Simpson] ---
**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, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/51 "2004-12-09T23:54:30Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Unfortunately, yes. ☹ > > [Grandpa Simpson] I used to young and with it, but now what I’m with isn’t _“it”_…and what _is_ “it” seems scary and weird to me. > > It’ll happen to yooouuuuu… [/Grandpa Simpson] Don’t worry, it’s already begun. I woke up one morning about 2 years ago and looked in the mirror at all of the earrings I had in my ears. I thought to my self “You look like an old dude with earrings”. I took them out that morning and I’ve only put them back on once or twice and only for a few hours. Sam ---
**Author:** ![yosemite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/3ab097/32.png) [@yosemite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yosemite)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/52 "2004-12-10T00:08:36Z")
Shit. I never heard of these guys and I have a hunch I’d probably not like their music, but it’s obvious they really had something going for them. This totally sucks. Heartbreaking. Scary. But mostly heartbreaking. ---
**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 10, 2004, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/53 "2004-12-10T00:12:36Z")
Crap I’m in for the same future too. /played in a hardcore band for years ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/54 "2004-12-10T00:20:36Z")
Never played, didn’t have no skills. But I used to be big in the local scene and always had friends who were musicians(I think 90% of them were guitarists). Sam ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/55 "2004-12-10T00:21:50Z")
> [@Diogenes the Cynic](#): > > Really? > > I spent years in a speed metal band. I played guitar, sang and wrote the tunes. I used to love Metallica, Slayer, Pantera and the like. I literally had hair down to my ass. Then I met my wife and went to college and got a haircut and became a dad and got old but there was a phase of my life in which I was the stereotypical metalhead. Too fucking cool. 🆒 Rock on dude, now and forever. I used to play acoustic, mostly folk, but I always secretly yearned to be able to do Gilmore’s part in Comfortably Numb. Damn. I’ve been considering taking up the guitar again. I might just do it now. > [@GaWd](#): > > Don’t worry, it’s already begun. I woke up one morning about 2 years ago and looked in the mirror at all of the earrings I had in my ears. I thought to my self “You look like an old dude with earrings”. I took them out that morning and I’ve only put them back on once or twice and only for a few hours. > > Sam To hell with that. I can still bang heads with the best of 'em. Pool hall, club, you name it. Older and wiser beats younger and faster every day of the week, and twice on Fridays and Saturdays. The “old, cool dude” can get you some wierd looks, but once the chickies realize you, like, _know shit,_ the beard, earrings and tatts are babe magnets. The young guys are usually too self-absorbed to treat their ladies right, and the ladies dig a guy who knows how to treat them with respect. _Ohhhh, yeeaaahhhhh…_😃 I’m wondering if (and thinking, yeah, probably) the anniversary of John Lennon’s death played any part of this nut-job’s thinking and motivation. ---
**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 10, 2004, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/56 "2004-12-10T00:28:07Z")
The Dallas Morning News has a nice profile up on their website. Registration required, but it’s a good newspaper and they don’t spam you. [http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/121004dnwebdimebag.268db41d.html](http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/121004dnwebdimebag.268db41d.html) ---
**Author:** ![GaWd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f08c70/32.png) [@GaWd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaWd)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/57 "2004-12-10T00:44:19Z")
Too bad it won’t let me register… ---
**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 10, 2004, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/58 "2004-12-10T00:59:12Z")
Try the link from the main page, [http://www.dallasnews.com/](http://www.dallasnews.com/) It’s currently the lead story, titled “Fans, friends remember guitarist.” Should remain free for the next couple weeks before hitting the archives. ---
**Author:** ![Liz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/liz/32/17737_2.png) [@Liz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liz)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/59 "2004-12-10T01:02:45Z")
Heard about it this morning. Dimebag was a _blistering_ guitarist and a funny guy. One of the best stories I ever heard about him was how Ozzy assigned him to keep an eye on Sharon backstage, and Dimebag proceeded to get her slam drunk on Wild Turkey shots and had to basically carry her out of the place. Good times. RIP, man. ---
**Author:** ![Silver\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Silver\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silver_Fire)\ **Post date:** [December 10, 2004, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943/60 "2004-12-10T02:28:43Z")
Yeah. ☹ I’ll never take my nose ring out, old age be damned. And Alex **likes** Pantera (and Tool and Slipknot and on and on), so… yeah. Just make sure you have cool kids, Sam. 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-metal-guitar-legend-gunned-down-on-stage/278943.md?page=4)