Wrathchild America’s “Climbin’ the Walls” debuted on Headbanger’s Ball in the fall of 1989, which is where I discovered the band. I soon bought the album and shared it with my friends Jeff and Andy. When the three of us heard Wrathchild America would be playing in an nearby club in the fall of 1990, we bought tickets and went to the show. Wrathchild America put on an awesome show, but they were somewhat upstaged by the opening band, four maniacs from Texas named Pantera who were supporting their just released album “Cowboys from Hell.”

I bought “Cowboys from Hell” (on cassette) at that show and listened to it on the way home. “Guys,” I told my friends, “this band is going to be huge.”

In May of 1991, we saw the two bands perform together again. This time, it was Wrathchild America who opened for Pantera.

While Wrathchild America faded into obscurity (which is too bad; they were a great band), Pantera took off. It took two years for their first major label album to chart, but it eventually did. (“Cowboys from Hell” was eventually certified Platinum, with over a millions sales.) But it was the band’s next album, 1992’s “Vulgar Display of Power,” that helped set their place in rock history and create a new genre, “groove metal.” The album has been described as “one of the most influential heavy metal albums of the 1990s,” thanks in large part to the over-the-top and innovative guitar work of “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott.

The band’s third album “Far Beyond Driven” was released in March of 1994. “Far Beyond Driven” is one of two albums (Metallica’s “Black” album being the other) that I actually went and stood in line for. To be honest there was no line for Pantera’s album in Weatherford, Oklahoma, but there must have been in other parts of the country as the album debuted at number one on the charts. By the time the band’s third album “Far Beyond Driven” was released, Dimebag Darrell was quickly becoming a guitar legend. His inimitable licks and unique style made him stand out both on and off the stage.

There were two more albums, a nearly fatal heroin overdose, and a bunch of other drama before the band finally split in 2003. Lead singer Phil Anselmo already had multiple side projects going (Down, Superjoint Ritual, and others), while the Abbott brothers (Dimebag and his brother/drummer Vinnie Paul) formed DamagePlan.

The Pantera split was anything but amicable, with all parties running to music magazines, radio shows, MTV, and anyone else who would listen to tell their side of the story. It was exciting to find out what was going to happen next with the feud.

No one could have predicted what would happen next.

On December 8th, 2004 (10 years ago today), DamagePlan was performing live in Columbus, Ohio when 25-year-old Nathan Gale entered the club, hopped on stage, and shot and killed Dimebag Darrell, along with three other people at the show and injuring two others.

I grew up listening to my parents’ music. I don’t remember when Janis Joplin or Jimi Hendrix died. I vaguely remember John Lennon’s death, and I do remember when Freddy Mercury died although it didn’t make a huge impact on me. But when my generation’s musicians started dying, like Kurt Cobain, it really sucked. And when Dimebag Darrell got shot on stage, I think collectively we all said, “Oh shit, that can happen?”

RIP Dimebag Darrell Abbott. August 20, 1966 – December 8, 2004.