Dimebag used a range of different effects during his career. He used both rack-mounted and pedal effects including:
• Furman PQ4 Equalizer (1990 - 1995)
• Furman PQ3 Equalizer (1996 - 2004)
• MXR 6-band Graphic Equalizer (the blue one)
• MXR Flanger/Doubler (Blue-faced rack unit)
• MXR Zakk Wylde Overdrive
• BOSS NS-2 Noise Suppressor
• BOSS CE-1 Chorus
• Korg G1
• Korg AX30G and AX100G
• E-Bow • Electro Harmonix Electric Mistress Flanger/filter matrix
• Electro Harmonix Soul Preacher compressor/sustainer
• Lexicon Effect Modules
• Digitech Whammy (x2)
• Vox wah
• Rocktron guitar Silencer
• Dunlop Rackmount wah
• Dunlop Octave Fuzz & Wah (prototype)
• Whirlwind A/B Selector
• Roland AP2 Phase ii Pedal
Monday, March 1, 2010
Magazine appearances
Abbott frequently appeared in guitar magazines, both in advertisements for equipment he endorsed and in readers' polls, where he was often included in the top ten metal guitarist spots. In addition, he wrote a long-running Guitar World magazine column, which has been compiled in the book Riffer Madness (ISBN 0-7692-9101-5). As well as he, been voted into the Guitar World Hall of Fame.
Total Guitar frequently featured him and wrote about him in the months leading up to his death. One year after his death, they made a tribute issue. The January 2008 issue of Metal Hammer was also dedicated to him. In the March 2008 issue of Guitar World Abbott was featured on the cover story "Dimebag, The Untold Story," and interviews with his then-guitar techs Grady Champion, Rita Haney and older brother Vinnie Paul Abbott. The January 2010 Guitar World commemorative issue features interviews with Dime's dad and Pantera's manager, Walter O' Brien. The January 2010 issue of Revolver Magazine is loaded with interviews from the remaining band members of Pantera on Dimebag and creating Vulgar Display of Power. It also comes loaded with Pantera memorabilia and rare photos from the Pantera vault.
Total Guitar frequently featured him and wrote about him in the months leading up to his death. One year after his death, they made a tribute issue. The January 2008 issue of Metal Hammer was also dedicated to him. In the March 2008 issue of Guitar World Abbott was featured on the cover story "Dimebag, The Untold Story," and interviews with his then-guitar techs Grady Champion, Rita Haney and older brother Vinnie Paul Abbott. The January 2010 Guitar World commemorative issue features interviews with Dime's dad and Pantera's manager, Walter O' Brien. The January 2010 issue of Revolver Magazine is loaded with interviews from the remaining band members of Pantera on Dimebag and creating Vulgar Display of Power. It also comes loaded with Pantera memorabilia and rare photos from the Pantera vault.
Tributes
• Country rock band, Cross Canadian Ragweed debuted the song "Dimebag" while on tour to promote the album Garage, The band performed the song live for the first time at the newport music hall in Columbus, Ohio in early 2005.
• A live version of Shinedown's cover of Simple Man is dedicated to Dimebag Darrell
• Trivium's album, The Crusade, says at the bottom of the final page, "Rest in peace Dimebag Darrell Abbott (1966-2004)"
• Disturbed in their 2005 release Ten Thousand Fists stated: "We would like to dedicate this record to the memory of our late fallen brother, Dimebag Darrell, one of the greatest guitar players to ever walk the face of this Earth"
• In the Limp Bizkit song "The Priest" you hear the lyrics "I see someone in rage killing Dimebag on stage...".
• French metal band Watcha dedicated a song on the album "Phenix" called "Dimebag". Lyrics contains many titles of Pantera soundtrack.
• Guitarist Buckethead wrote "Dime", a song paying tribute to Abbott, which was available for free download shortly after Abbott's death. The song later made it onto Buckethead's album Kaleidoscalp, entitled "The Android of Notre Dame".[20]
• He Came to Rock is a DVD/book tribute to Abbott released in November 2008. Darrell's brother Vinnie Paul and father Jerry toured to promote the book's release.[21]
• The booklet in C.O.C.'s In the Arms of God album says "R.I.P. Dime" at the bottom of the last page.
• The song "Side of a Bullet" by Nickelback is a tribute to Dimebag; it takes place in a world where the killer is still alive and has lyrics such as, "He hit the stage so full of rage and let the whole world know it/6 feet away they heard him say/Oh God, don't let him pull it." An unreleased solo recorded by Dimebag, intended for Damageplan was mixed into the song.
• Metal band Machine Head dedicated a song to Dimebag on their album "The Blackening", called Aesthetics of Hate. The song's lyrics are meant as a vicious retaliation against the Christian-conservative website "The Iconoclast," who hosted an article of the same name bashing Darrell after his death. Also, on their tour with this album, they honored Dimebag during concert, by taking time to tell Dime's story. "Aesthetics of Hate" remains a mainstay on tour and is always dedicated in memory of Darrell. Rob Flynn was a friend of Darrell's, who also took the time to remark both on how talented and how generous he was - reportedly, Rob owns a custom-made Washburn Dimebag guitar which was given to him as a replacement after Dimebag broke his touring guitar, but can't use it on stage due to contract disagreements, he used this guitar to record "Aesthetics of Hate". Machine Head have also recorded a cover of the Pantera song Fucking Hostile for the Metal Hammer magazine tribute CD.[22]
• Static-X's album Start A War was dedicated to Dimebag Darrell as it says in the inner booklet of the CD.
• In Avenged Sevenfold's City of Evil album, the song Betrayed is labeled as "In memory of Darrell Lance Abbott-"Dimebag Darrell". Also Avenged Sevenfold did a cover of the Pantera song Walk.
• The 2006 live album Garage by Cross Canadian Ragweed features the song "Dimebag" which is about "Dimebag" Darrell and makes references to his songs and death.
• In 2006, Malibu punk/metal band 2Cents released "Lost at Sea" (Atlantic Records)which features a tribute song to Abbott titled "A Song for Darrell Abbott".
• Finnish Metal band Kiuas´ song "Bleeding Strings" from their 2006 album "Reformation" is dedicated to Dimebag Darrell.
• Phil Anselmo's band Down now dedicates the song Lifer, from NOLA, to Dimebag Darrell when performed live.
• Black Label Society now dedicates the song "In This River" to Dimebag.
• Brides Of Destruction paid tribute to Dimebag Darrell on their 2005 release, Runaway Brides, with the track "Dimes In Heaven".
• The lyrics of metal band Abnormality's 2007 song Visions are about Dimebag Darrel's death.
• Leave it Alone (with Jason Bittner, David Ellefson, Tristan "1690" Grigsby, Nick Bowcott and Brian Cashmore) - A Tribute to Dimebag Darrell
• The progressive death metal band Between The Buried And Me did a cover of Cemetery Gates on their album "The Anatomy Of".
• While playing in Hammersmith in 2004, Melodic Death Metal band In Flames played a cover of "Fucking hostile" and dedicated it to the memory of Dimebag Darrell.
• The 2009 album 11:11 by Rodrigo y Gabriela features a tribute track named "Atman" 'inspired by Dimebag Darrell never to be forgotten lead guitarist in Pantera and Damageplan, who was tragically murdered onstage in 2004' [23]
• Bullet For My Valentine did a cover of the Pantera song Domination.
• The popular video game Guitar Hero II lists all of the guitarists of the bands featured in the games, and at the very end it says "R.I.P. Dimebag".
• Ace Frehley's 2009 solo album Anomaly is dedicated to Dimebag.
• The artist Kat created an original painting "Razorback" in memory of Dimebag Darrell and all musicians who lost their lives prematurely.
• Slayer guitarist Kerry King drinks a shot at the end of live performances as a tribute to Darrell and usually leaves one shot on stage "For Dime".
• Type O Negative plays "Halloween in Heaven" off of the Dead Again album as a tribute to Dimebag when playing live.
• The video game character Axel Steel from Guitar hero III has an alternative outfit that highly resembles Dimebag, featuring camouflage shorts, sneakers and a goatee with a red tip.
• Brian Welch (former guitarist of the band Korn) made an only-guitar song dedicated to Dimebag called "Letter to Dimebag".
• The booklet in the Evanescence album "The Open Door", in Terry Balsamo's section says "..R.I.Pdimebag.."
• Detroit groove-metal band Myth Not Man ends every one of their shows with a cover of the Pantera song "Becoming" in tribute to Dimebag Darrell's influence on their guitar player's (Joey Davis') style and their music.
• In the computer game Brütal Legend, the Ormagöden loading icon is replaced by a Dime icon on December 8th.
• A song on Guitarist Michael Angelo Batio's new album "Hands without Shadows 2 - Voices" titled "Tribute to Dimebag" where he covers Pantera's "cowboys from hell"
• At the bottom of the track listing of Ace Frehley's album Anomaly (album) it says "dedicated to Eric Carr and Dimebag Darrell"
• A tribute album by UK magazine Metal Hammer will pay tribute to Dimebag. It will come along with the magazine, which goes on sale December 16, 2009. The tracklisting is as follows:
1. Zakk Wylde - Suicide Note Part 1
2. Machine Head - Fucking Hostile
3. Malefice - I'm Broken
4. Avenged Sevenfold - Walk
5. Evile - Cemetery Gates
6. Five Finger Death Punch - A New Level
7. Biohazard - Mouth for War
8. Sylosis - Strength Beyond Strength
9. Chimaira - Slaughtered
10. Unearth - Sandblasted Skin
11. Throwdown - Becoming
12. Kiuas - This Love
13. This is Hell - Rise
14. Nonpoint - 5 Minutes Alone*
15. In Flames - Fuckin Hostile/Behind Space
• A live version of Shinedown's cover of Simple Man is dedicated to Dimebag Darrell
• Trivium's album, The Crusade, says at the bottom of the final page, "Rest in peace Dimebag Darrell Abbott (1966-2004)"
• Disturbed in their 2005 release Ten Thousand Fists stated: "We would like to dedicate this record to the memory of our late fallen brother, Dimebag Darrell, one of the greatest guitar players to ever walk the face of this Earth"
• In the Limp Bizkit song "The Priest" you hear the lyrics "I see someone in rage killing Dimebag on stage...".
• French metal band Watcha dedicated a song on the album "Phenix" called "Dimebag". Lyrics contains many titles of Pantera soundtrack.
• Guitarist Buckethead wrote "Dime", a song paying tribute to Abbott, which was available for free download shortly after Abbott's death. The song later made it onto Buckethead's album Kaleidoscalp, entitled "The Android of Notre Dame".[20]
• He Came to Rock is a DVD/book tribute to Abbott released in November 2008. Darrell's brother Vinnie Paul and father Jerry toured to promote the book's release.[21]
• The booklet in C.O.C.'s In the Arms of God album says "R.I.P. Dime" at the bottom of the last page.
• The song "Side of a Bullet" by Nickelback is a tribute to Dimebag; it takes place in a world where the killer is still alive and has lyrics such as, "He hit the stage so full of rage and let the whole world know it/6 feet away they heard him say/Oh God, don't let him pull it." An unreleased solo recorded by Dimebag, intended for Damageplan was mixed into the song.
• Metal band Machine Head dedicated a song to Dimebag on their album "The Blackening", called Aesthetics of Hate. The song's lyrics are meant as a vicious retaliation against the Christian-conservative website "The Iconoclast," who hosted an article of the same name bashing Darrell after his death. Also, on their tour with this album, they honored Dimebag during concert, by taking time to tell Dime's story. "Aesthetics of Hate" remains a mainstay on tour and is always dedicated in memory of Darrell. Rob Flynn was a friend of Darrell's, who also took the time to remark both on how talented and how generous he was - reportedly, Rob owns a custom-made Washburn Dimebag guitar which was given to him as a replacement after Dimebag broke his touring guitar, but can't use it on stage due to contract disagreements, he used this guitar to record "Aesthetics of Hate". Machine Head have also recorded a cover of the Pantera song Fucking Hostile for the Metal Hammer magazine tribute CD.[22]
• Static-X's album Start A War was dedicated to Dimebag Darrell as it says in the inner booklet of the CD.
• In Avenged Sevenfold's City of Evil album, the song Betrayed is labeled as "In memory of Darrell Lance Abbott-"Dimebag Darrell". Also Avenged Sevenfold did a cover of the Pantera song Walk.
• The 2006 live album Garage by Cross Canadian Ragweed features the song "Dimebag" which is about "Dimebag" Darrell and makes references to his songs and death.
• In 2006, Malibu punk/metal band 2Cents released "Lost at Sea" (Atlantic Records)which features a tribute song to Abbott titled "A Song for Darrell Abbott".
• Finnish Metal band Kiuas´ song "Bleeding Strings" from their 2006 album "Reformation" is dedicated to Dimebag Darrell.
• Phil Anselmo's band Down now dedicates the song Lifer, from NOLA, to Dimebag Darrell when performed live.
• Black Label Society now dedicates the song "In This River" to Dimebag.
• Brides Of Destruction paid tribute to Dimebag Darrell on their 2005 release, Runaway Brides, with the track "Dimes In Heaven".
• The lyrics of metal band Abnormality's 2007 song Visions are about Dimebag Darrel's death.
• Leave it Alone (with Jason Bittner, David Ellefson, Tristan "1690" Grigsby, Nick Bowcott and Brian Cashmore) - A Tribute to Dimebag Darrell
• The progressive death metal band Between The Buried And Me did a cover of Cemetery Gates on their album "The Anatomy Of".
• While playing in Hammersmith in 2004, Melodic Death Metal band In Flames played a cover of "Fucking hostile" and dedicated it to the memory of Dimebag Darrell.
• The 2009 album 11:11 by Rodrigo y Gabriela features a tribute track named "Atman" 'inspired by Dimebag Darrell never to be forgotten lead guitarist in Pantera and Damageplan, who was tragically murdered onstage in 2004' [23]
• Bullet For My Valentine did a cover of the Pantera song Domination.
• The popular video game Guitar Hero II lists all of the guitarists of the bands featured in the games, and at the very end it says "R.I.P. Dimebag".
• Ace Frehley's 2009 solo album Anomaly is dedicated to Dimebag.
• The artist Kat created an original painting "Razorback" in memory of Dimebag Darrell and all musicians who lost their lives prematurely.
• Slayer guitarist Kerry King drinks a shot at the end of live performances as a tribute to Darrell and usually leaves one shot on stage "For Dime".
• Type O Negative plays "Halloween in Heaven" off of the Dead Again album as a tribute to Dimebag when playing live.
• The video game character Axel Steel from Guitar hero III has an alternative outfit that highly resembles Dimebag, featuring camouflage shorts, sneakers and a goatee with a red tip.
• Brian Welch (former guitarist of the band Korn) made an only-guitar song dedicated to Dimebag called "Letter to Dimebag".
• The booklet in the Evanescence album "The Open Door", in Terry Balsamo's section says "..R.I.Pdimebag.."
• Detroit groove-metal band Myth Not Man ends every one of their shows with a cover of the Pantera song "Becoming" in tribute to Dimebag Darrell's influence on their guitar player's (Joey Davis') style and their music.
• In the computer game Brütal Legend, the Ormagöden loading icon is replaced by a Dime icon on December 8th.
• A song on Guitarist Michael Angelo Batio's new album "Hands without Shadows 2 - Voices" titled "Tribute to Dimebag" where he covers Pantera's "cowboys from hell"
• At the bottom of the track listing of Ace Frehley's album Anomaly (album) it says "dedicated to Eric Carr and Dimebag Darrell"
• A tribute album by UK magazine Metal Hammer will pay tribute to Dimebag. It will come along with the magazine, which goes on sale December 16, 2009. The tracklisting is as follows:
1. Zakk Wylde - Suicide Note Part 1
2. Machine Head - Fucking Hostile
3. Malefice - I'm Broken
4. Avenged Sevenfold - Walk
5. Evile - Cemetery Gates
6. Five Finger Death Punch - A New Level
7. Biohazard - Mouth for War
8. Sylosis - Strength Beyond Strength
9. Chimaira - Slaughtered
10. Unearth - Sandblasted Skin
11. Throwdown - Becoming
12. Kiuas - This Love
13. This is Hell - Rise
14. Nonpoint - 5 Minutes Alone*
15. In Flames - Fuckin Hostile/Behind Space
Discography and filmography
Main article: Dimebag Darrell discography and filmography
Abbott performed on Anthrax albums, including Stomp 442 (1995); Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998); the Inside Out EP (1998) and We've Come for You All (2003). With Damage plan, Abbott played on the Devastation Sampler (2003) and on the album New Found Power (2004). With Pantera, Abbott recorded a number of albums, EPs, singles, and videos, including Power Metal (1988); Cowboys from Hell (1990); Vulgar Display of Power (1992); and Hostile Moments (1994). He also recorded albums under his own name, including Country Western Transvestite Whore and Supercop Soundtrack (1996) and he recorded a country music album entitled Rebel Meets Rebel (2004).
Abbott performed on Anthrax albums, including Stomp 442 (1995); Volume 8: The Threat Is Real (1998); the Inside Out EP (1998) and We've Come for You All (2003). With Damage plan, Abbott played on the Devastation Sampler (2003) and on the album New Found Power (2004). With Pantera, Abbott recorded a number of albums, EPs, singles, and videos, including Power Metal (1988); Cowboys from Hell (1990); Vulgar Display of Power (1992); and Hostile Moments (1994). He also recorded albums under his own name, including Country Western Transvestite Whore and Supercop Soundtrack (1996) and he recorded a country music album entitled Rebel Meets Rebel (2004).
References
1. ^ "Dimebag Darrell". http://www.deanguitars.com/dime/dimepast/pages/dimebag.htm. Retrieved 02-08-2009.
2. ^ "PANTERA: DIMEBAG's Book Hits The Shelves". http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=11088. Retrieved 02-08-2009.
3. ^ Blackett, Matt (October 2004). "The 50 Greatest Tones of All Time". Guitar Player 38 (10): 44–66.
4. ^ Prato, Greg. "((( Dimebag Darrell > Biography )))". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:09fqxql0ldde~T1. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
5. ^ a b "Former Friend: Gunman Obsessed With Pantera", Associated Press, December 10, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,141121,00.html
6. ^ "Dimebag Darrell - Biography". http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/dimebag_darrell/bio.jhtml. Retrieved 02-08-2009.
7. ^ VH1. (2006). Behind the Music. [TV series].
8. ^ Wiederhorn, How (2004-01-08). "Damageplan put Pantera behind them with New Found Power lol". VH1. http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1484223/01082004/damageplan.jhtml. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
9. ^ "MTVNews.com: Remembering Dimebag". Mtv.com. http://www.mtv.com/bands/d/damageplan/news_feature_120505/. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
10. ^ The band consists of two of Abbott's cousins (bassist Heather Manly and guitarist April Adkisson). This song (track 2) can be found on Premenishen's debut album, 'Symphony For The Freaks'.
11. ^ Mike Portnoy FAQ, Mike Portnoy.com. Retrieved 29 January 2007.
12. ^ "100 Greatest Guitar Solos - Tablature for solos 11 - 20". Guitar.about.com. 2009-11-02. http://guitar.about.com/library/bl100greatesta.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
13. ^ [1][dead link]
14. ^ New York Times: "Darrell Abbott, 38, a Guitarist Featured in Heavy-Metal Bands, Dies"
15. ^ "Three Years After DIMEBAG's Murder: Missed Opportunities Abound". Blabbermouth. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86362. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
16. ^ Dimebag Darrell killing 'not motivated by Pantera split', NME.com. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
17. ^ Nightclub Shooter Said Pantera Stole His Lyrics, wftv.com. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
18. ^ a b Guitar World, vol. 5 No. 4, April 1994
19. ^ Kitts, Jeff (2008-09-10). "Dimebag Darrell: Dime’s Dozen". Guitar World. http://www.guitarworld.com/article/dimebag_darrell_dime%E2%80%99s_dozen?page=0%2C1. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
20. ^ "Buckethead - Kaleidoscalp Review". sputnikmusic. 2007-07-20. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=18798. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
21. ^ "Dallas - DC9 At Night - Vinnie Paul Abbott Came to Rock Best Buy, and Totally Succeeded". Blogs.dallasobserver.com. 2008-11-24. http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2008/11/dimebag_darrells_family_signs.php. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
22. ^ "Machine Head - Diary - 2009". Machinehead1.com. http://www.machinehead1.com/diary.html. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
23. ^ "Rodrigo y Gabriela". Rodgab.com. http://www.rodgab.com/1111.html. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
2. ^ "PANTERA: DIMEBAG's Book Hits The Shelves". http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=11088. Retrieved 02-08-2009.
3. ^ Blackett, Matt (October 2004). "The 50 Greatest Tones of All Time". Guitar Player 38 (10): 44–66.
4. ^ Prato, Greg. "((( Dimebag Darrell > Biography )))". allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:09fqxql0ldde~T1. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
5. ^ a b "Former Friend: Gunman Obsessed With Pantera", Associated Press, December 10, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,141121,00.html
6. ^ "Dimebag Darrell - Biography". http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/dimebag_darrell/bio.jhtml. Retrieved 02-08-2009.
7. ^ VH1. (2006). Behind the Music. [TV series].
8. ^ Wiederhorn, How (2004-01-08). "Damageplan put Pantera behind them with New Found Power lol". VH1. http://www.vh1.com/artists/news/1484223/01082004/damageplan.jhtml. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
9. ^ "MTVNews.com: Remembering Dimebag". Mtv.com. http://www.mtv.com/bands/d/damageplan/news_feature_120505/. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
10. ^ The band consists of two of Abbott's cousins (bassist Heather Manly and guitarist April Adkisson). This song (track 2) can be found on Premenishen's debut album, 'Symphony For The Freaks'.
11. ^ Mike Portnoy FAQ, Mike Portnoy.com. Retrieved 29 January 2007.
12. ^ "100 Greatest Guitar Solos - Tablature for solos 11 - 20". Guitar.about.com. 2009-11-02. http://guitar.about.com/library/bl100greatesta.htm. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
13. ^ [1][dead link]
14. ^ New York Times: "Darrell Abbott, 38, a Guitarist Featured in Heavy-Metal Bands, Dies"
15. ^ "Three Years After DIMEBAG's Murder: Missed Opportunities Abound". Blabbermouth. http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=86362. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
16. ^ Dimebag Darrell killing 'not motivated by Pantera split', NME.com. Retrieved 31 March 2009.
17. ^ Nightclub Shooter Said Pantera Stole His Lyrics, wftv.com. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
18. ^ a b Guitar World, vol. 5 No. 4, April 1994
19. ^ Kitts, Jeff (2008-09-10). "Dimebag Darrell: Dime’s Dozen". Guitar World. http://www.guitarworld.com/article/dimebag_darrell_dime%E2%80%99s_dozen?page=0%2C1. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
20. ^ "Buckethead - Kaleidoscalp Review". sputnikmusic. 2007-07-20. http://www.sputnikmusic.com/album.php?albumid=18798. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
21. ^ "Dallas - DC9 At Night - Vinnie Paul Abbott Came to Rock Best Buy, and Totally Succeeded". Blogs.dallasobserver.com. 2008-11-24. http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/dc9/2008/11/dimebag_darrells_family_signs.php. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
22. ^ "Machine Head - Diary - 2009". Machinehead1.com. http://www.machinehead1.com/diary.html. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
23. ^ "Rodrigo y Gabriela". Rodgab.com. http://www.rodgab.com/1111.html. Retrieved 2010-01-27.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Steve Ray Vaughan
WHAT IS your definition of a musical legend? Is it someone who has peer respect? Someone who has the virtuosity-like command of his instrument? Someone who has the ability to mesmerize the crowd? Someone who inspire others? Someone who makes a comeback after succumbing to substance abuse? Or is it someone dies in his peak leaving a strong legacy?
By any of these benchmarks, Steve Ray Vaughan (SRV) is a guitar legend. Born in 1954, SRV formed his blues-rock band Double Trouble in late 1970s. His distinctive sound, partly due to his use of heavy 13 gauge strings, his battered Fender (which he affectionately referred to as his No. 1), his fiery live performances and of course, his trademark cowboy hat had made him a strong local draw by the early 80s. However, he was still an underground wonder desperately trying to make it big time.
In the summer of 1982, SRV got his break at the Monteux Jazz Festival in Switzerland. Although he played songs like “Pride And Joy”, “Texas Flood”, “Collins Shuffle” (all future hits) as if there was no tomorrow, the audience was indifferent and couldn’t care less. With each passing song, the crowd grew restless and began booing and hissing; they just could not bear the fact that there was a white man on the stage playing electric blues. By the time his set over, SRV was heartbroken and bewildered.
Fortunately, also in the audience were David Bowie and Jackson Browne. They were so enthralled by his raw talent and his unbounded passion that Bowie asked him to guest on his Lets Dance album and tour, while Brown asked Stevie to record in his studio (free of charge). It was in Brown’s studio that Stevie recorded his debut album Texas Flood.
Released in 1983, Texas Flood won both critical acclaim and commercial success, with the song Pride and Joy reaching the top 20-s. The follow-up albums couldn’t stand the Weather (1985) and Soul to Soul (1985) met equal success. In 1985, he returned to Monteux not as the up-and-coming player he had been 3 years back, but as a headliner of the Blues Night at the Festival. The crowd, now familiar with Stevie’s songs treated him as a guitar god and gave him a hero’s welcome. With every passing day, SRV’s popularity was increasing and it seemed as if nothing could stem the tide of his growth.
However, the fast life that came along with the stardom took its toll on SRV and he started turning to drugs and alcohol for solace. By 1986, he had become so mired in substance abuse that he collapsed on stage. Later the year he checked into rehab and successfully recovered from his addictions. Upon returning, he recorded In Step (1989) which won him a Grammy for Best Contemporary Blues Record.
On August 26, 1990, he played what would become his last concert. At Alpine Valley Music Center, Stevie Ray Vaughan captivated the audience with his repertoire of songs like “Couldn’t Stand the Weather”, “Pride and Joy”, “The Things I used to do”, “Cross Fire” and concluded with a thrilling version of “Sweet Home Chicago” with other Blues legends like Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray and his Brother Jimmie Vaughan. The very next day, the helicopter carrying him out of the event crashed and led to an untimely death. His death was likened by one critic to that of “a soldier who makes it through a war without a scratch, and then is killed on his way back home”.
Robert Cray famously said, “There will be a thousand guitarists who can play the same songs as Stevie, but there will never be anyone who can play them with the same fire”. While his potential got snuffed in its prime, SRV’s legacy still lives on. A string of posthumous releases following his death, including a duet album Family Style with Jimmy Vaughan on 1990, met with strong commercial success. Jimmy Vaughan later recorded Six Strings Down, a tribute to SRV, which featured song by his influences (Albert King, BB King) and his peers (Robert Cray). Since 1991, the state of Texas has been celebrating October 3 as Stevie Ray Vaughan Day. In 1992, Fender released SRV signature Stratocaster and in 1994, his statue was placed at Auditorium Shores in Austin Texas. His influence on up and coming guitarist cannot be underestimated; he is credited by artists ranging from as diverse backgrounds as Mark Cole of Charge and Kenny Wayne Shepherd as being their prime influence.
EVOLUTION OF THE MASKMEN
Slipknot was brought together by Paul with Shawn along with Andres Colsfni (ex-singer) in Des Moines, Iowa in 1995. The band has been through the changes since then to reach the current 9 member status it has now. Slipknot considers them as a family unit and each of the nine members are assigned a number between 0-8. The group masqueraded the metal scene in their individual masks, each representing a personality, and their draping jumpsuits. Rather than hiding themselves, slipknot feel they are showing their true personalities and inner selves with the masks which also add to the flavor and intensity of the music due the sheer awkwardness of the masks. The band started wearing the mask when Shawn (no.6), one day brought a clown mask he had to their practice. After that other members brought what they had and thought reflected their individual personalities. Just as what many bands do, slipknot’s music also has evolved. With their music their masks also had evolved. But this doesn’t mean that they’ve donned a new mask but they’ve stuck to their original theme and made some changes only. Looking back at the old day’s mask and the new one they have, one can point out the differences easily.
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