Sad day...Dimebag Darrell killed

[atomic charvel guy]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

man it's weird feeling again, this gets sadder everyday for me. i'm finding out that you gotta feel everything in life, the good and the bad. it seems god, or whoever is running the show up there has truly equipped us with all the tools to get through life without drowning your system in opiates, booze, or whatever to deal with the good and bad in life. but i gotta tell it felt good to cry my eyes out yesterday about this incident cuz when it happened i had enough junk in me to sit there and just go wow this sucks.
i want to thank you guys for always being there for me, and to my pal richie lerx street cat, you disa gree with me because of your strong love for dimebag and that is just as cool as my sympathy for phil who's heart is in so many pieces right now, he may never be able to gather them all up to put it back together again. i hope he's not next.
this has all been some severely devastating events to so many different circles. now that i'm almost human again, how do we go about dropping a piano on that GRIM character who wrote that lame ass article about this. guitars-jb had the fine idea. i'm ready help pull it off.

[Sephiroth]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

[ QUOTE ]
Darrell is interred at Moore Funeral Home Cemetery in Arlington, Texas.

[/ QUOTE ]

Someone posted a pic of the site, pre-burial, but with the headstone.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg...mPhotos=Y&

[lerxstcat]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

Tommy, I'm glad you understand bro. I don't want Phil to die or come to physical harm either, but I do feel he deserves to feel the emotional pain he's feeling right now, because of the stuff he said, not just to Metal Hammer, but ever since leaving Pantera. Now he blames the mags, but he's the one who said the stuff.Guys, I'm not saying NG DID read that article, just that he COULD HAVE. Y'all seem to want to tink that he could NOT have, in a effort to let Phil off the hook for any kind of responsibility. I can admit that it's only possible, but you can't admit that it could've triggered the guy?Seph, I read the article and comprehend it just fine. You don't seem to realize that a paranoid schizophrenic would not process it the same way a mentally well-adjusted person would. We know the guy thought Pantera stole his lyrics, yet you think he couldn't have interpreted this article as a hit notice? If he read it he may have not needed to read more than "I could kill him..." to decide to act.In the end, Phil should know from 15 years of Pantera and all his other bands, there's a fairly high number of crazy mofos that dig his music. He said some highly inflammatory shit, and whether NGT acted on that or not,it was completely forseeable that one of those crazy fans would, or could. For even joking or talking shit about it, he fully deserves to feel every bit as bad as you seem to think he feels. I'll even admit I think he probably does feel that way, but he's got it coming to him. Maybe he's learned now there's a price to pay for sh!t-talking, and maybe everybody who's saying the sh!t talk doesn't matter should think about it too.The Abbotts will probably forgive him, someday. Him missing the funeral, is the least price he can pay for the timing of the remarks alone. I really hope he doesn't off himself, but he deserves to suffer. At leasthe is alive.

[atomic charvel guy]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

believe me, he's suffering. maybe as much as the abbotts.
at one of my best friends funerals in new york, i was one of the few not crying, cuz i was loaded with junk. one of my friends came up to me and said, i know you're not crying but you might feel worse than everybody here. he was right. this whole thing is just unjust. thanks firebird, and everyone else. i'm in the last hours and i'm actualyy able to sit up post and be a total headache again. guess i gotta make the jcf my new drug of choice. it's always been anyway.
AND!!!! i could have easily made a phonecall the last 2 and a half days and made myself fine, but the only reason i did not was because of the great support from my friends here.
and i do mean friends in every sense of the world. all my friends in california really just care about what you're holdin' and you people, some i've met, and some i have not only care about what i'm not holdin'. and i consider those people real friends.

[charvelguy]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I agree with Kerry King (a rarity) that this should change nothing about metal shows. It was crazy, and unless there is a copycat there is not much to worry about. There is nothing that can be done that won't cause small clubs to fold, cause bands to make even less money, and make concert going like the opera where you sit in your chair all night and aplaud at the end.

Darrell Would Not Want Metal to Change

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Agreed. I really hope there isn't a knee-jerk reaction to this. It'll only take something away from the fans. Remember when metal shows were general admission no matter what size the venue was? I miss those days.

[/ QUOTE ]

If there is precautions taken, I think it will be done more on a stage level as far as the bands themselves are concerned. People working with the band may start carrying tazers or a firearm.
Or security will be stepped up at the clubs expense given each bands contractual stipulations. An extra person at each exit would be worth a life.

Gee, will there be a copycat? It was hoped there would not be more of the same after Columbine, but unfortunately there was. I agree the circumstances in this are pretty special tho. Nathan Gale was a fully made moltov cocktail just waiting for someone or something to ignite the 'fuse'

[Chuckracer]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

Tommy, you ARE steel! Whatever little bit of strength I have left is yours...please keep it up bro...stay the course. Hear my voice nagging in your ear when it gets tough...and it will. But you know that and you are steel...

Hit me with a PM...need numbers...

[atomic charvel guy]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

i called you yesterday, you're right, it's tough to get through. are you in upstate n.y. or nova scotia?-lol

[Chuckracer]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

Same thing, really! I have to be standing on the front porch, on my left foot, with one glove on, my shirt tucked in, and holding my tounge just right to get cell coverage. I can get two bars if I don't wear skivvies.
So, as you can imagine, it's best if I'm the one doing the calling as I don't hang out on the porch like that often. The woodland creatures would talk.

[Sephiroth]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I agree with Kerry King (a rarity) that this should change nothing about metal shows. It was crazy, and unless there is a copycat there is not much to worry about. There is nothing that can be done that won't cause small clubs to fold, cause bands to make even less money, and make concert going like the opera where you sit in your chair all night and aplaud at the end.

Darrell Would Not Want Metal to Change

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed. I really hope there isn't a knee-jerk reaction to this. It'll only take something away from the fans. Remember when metal shows were general admission no matter what size the venue was? I miss those days.

[/ QUOTE ]

If there is precautions taken, I think it will be done more on a stage level as far as the bands themselves are concerned. People working with the band may start carrying tazers or a firearm.
Or security will be stepped up at the clubs expense given each bands contractual stipulations. An extra person at each exit would be worth a life.

Gee, will there be a copycat? It was hoped there would not be more of the same after Columbine, but unfortunately there was. I agree the circumstances in this are pretty special tho. Nathan Gale was a fully made moltov cocktail just waiting for someone or something to ignite the 'fuse'

[/ QUOTE ]

I miss the GA concerts too, and think that assigned seating in big-arena shows has more to do with selling tickets than crowd control. Many bands and event organizers themselves are scalping their premium seats, and scalpers are getting better and better at getting all the good seats before tickets to a given event even go on sale. I remember the last time U2 blasted through town; all the local scalpers in the paper were advertising tickets for sale several days before they went on sale to the public.

People won't carry firearms close to a crowd. That all but begs for someone to grab it.

[atomic charvel guy]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

chuckles,
tape a spoke from your bicycle to your forehead and go sit on the roof now, i'll call you.

[Shawn Lutz]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

This was posted on HC....

Wed Dec 15, 2004

Today I was contacted by two local Columbus Roadies that were both eyewitnesses to the DamagePlan Shootings exactly one week ago tonight in Columbus Ohio at the Alrosa Villa club. They are members of the local stage crew in Columbus, and work several venues including the Alrosa. "Jon" is the club's stage manager and "Tubbs" is the club's F.O.H. (Front of House Sound Man) and was working monitors that fateful night as he normally did when a national act like DamagePlan played the club. Neither Jon nor Tubbs have spoken publicly until now, even though both have been contacted by several national and local news sources and have been asked for comments. They have chosen to tell their story here to make sure their words are not misrepresented or taken out of context.

Here is their story of those terrible few minutes that have changed their lives forever and taken a close friend from them in the same instant. As Jon emotionally told me, "It was the worst <deleted> thing I have ever seen in my life."

Both Jon and Tubbs said that the afternoon could not have gone any better. The band and their crew were extremely professional and friendly. Jon remembers Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson (the head of the band's security) making sure the local crew all had plenty of water and Dimebag Darrell Abbott even made small talk with some of them during the sound check. "They were all incredible," said Jon. During the day however, a strange man made a nuisance of himself, and was finally told to leave the area by "Mayhem." Hangers-on and Want-ta-bees are common in the music business, and no one figured this guy was really dangerous. This of course turned out to be Nathan Gale, who as we know now ended up shooting six people, and killing four of them later that day. Other than that apparently minor incident, the set-up for the show went remarkably smooth. Tubbs now also remembers that just prior to the show Gale's van was parked behind the band's tour bus, and they announced over the PA several times for the owner to have it moved or it would be towed...which the Gale reportedly did shortly before DamagePlan took the stage.

As the gig was about to start, Jon was on the stage with his roommate and close friend Erin "Stoney" Halk. On the opposite side of the stage stood Jeffrey 'Mayhem' Thompson performing his security duties by scanning the audience for any potential threats to the band. About that time (just a few minutes prior to the band entering the stage) Jon was thirsty, and decided to walk to the bar and get a bottle of water. He told "Stoney" that "the stage is yours" meaning that the responsibility for the security on that side of the stage (stage right) was now his. Stoney motioned a "thumbs up" to verify that he understood. Jon worked his way through the crowd and was near the bar when he heard the first shots. POP, POP, POP...He looked up and saw the horrific sight of Dimebag falling to the ground and the mass confusion unfolding on the stage. His most vivid memory of that moment strangely, is the ear-splitting feedback caused by Dimebag falling on his own guitar. During the next few panic filled minutes he grabbed and pushed people towards the closest door. In a blur of time he eventually ended up making his way towards the stage, grabbing Vinnie Paul Abbott (drummer for DamagePlan and the brother of the now slain guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell) and ushered him to safety.

Tubbs was stage left and watched the entire surreal event unfold just a few feet in front of him. He says he was probably the last person to talk to Dimebag having said something to him as he entered the stage. As the monitor guy for this gig, his mixing console was only about 5 or 6 feet away from the lead guitarist. According to Tubbs, the shooter (Nathan Gale) entered the stage from the stage right area (not from the audience as previously reported) As Gale determinedly ran towards Dimebag the stage right roadie "Stoney" ran after him. "Mayhem" saw Gale and converged on him from stage left. Neither one got to center stage fast enough. Gale fired at least five bullets at point blank range into the doomed artist's body. The final bullet was a fatal head shot fired as he went down. "He was dead before he hit the stage", says Tubbs. "The way the attack happened, nothing could have saved him...nothing," He also remembers the feedback (a droning hum at about 600 Hz, notes the trained ear of the audio tech)

The next few minutes were confused, but this is what else Tubbs remembers.

As Dimebag hit the floor the shooter now turned his attention to Tubbs (still only about five feet away). Gale raised the gun and aimed it at Tubbs who was now literally looking down the barrel of the gun. However, before he could shoot Tubbs, the two Roadies ("Stoney" and "Mayhem") tackled Gale from opposite sides. Neither one had a weapon, and both were putting their own lives at risk to try to stop the shooter from killing anyone else. Erin "Stoney" Halk was an ex-Marine and Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson was a massive 6'1'' man and a very scary looking dude, so I'm sure they both thought they had a better than even chance to disarm the gunman. They were wrong. We now know that Nathan Gale was also a trained ex-Marine and he dropped his first empty clip and slapped another one in the semi-automatic 9 mm pistol in the blink of an eye. He killed both of these heroes within seconds of his first victim. Gale had at least five clips of bullets and he reloaded at least once, but probably twice, says Tubbs. As "Stoney" and "Mayhem" died making the ultimate sacrifice, two more roadies and several members of the audience also rose to the occasion and stormed the stage. Chris Paluska (the DamagePlan Tour Manager) took a shot to the stomach, and is still in serious condition in a local hospital (according to the most recent report). John "Kat" Brooks (the band's drum roadie) also took a hit (but thankfully has now been released from the hospital). According to Tubbs, both were definitely trying to subdue Gale. About the same time several members of the audience climbed the crowd barrier protecting the stage, and some tried to help "Dimebag" with CPR while others made their own attempts to subdue the shooter. (MORE HEROES). Tubbs believes that Nathen Bray (the only "civilian" casualty) was actually killed because he was one of those fans that climbed the stage. Tubbs does not believe that any shots were directed at the fleeing audience at any time (again contrary to published media reports). While all these failed attempts of these unarmed heroes attacking an armed gunman were happening, both Tubbs and Jon noticed several police officers quietly entering the club. Most of them took defensive positions, apparently waiting for more back up. Directly disputing published police reports they both claim that the officer that eventually killed Gale was NOT the first officer on the scene. He appeared however to be the first officer that decided to do something about the situation. Seeing that Gale had a hostage and that he was temporarily distracted by the waves of roadies and fans trying to disarm him, the officer shot the perpetrator from behind with a shotgun blast killing him instantly. With that shot, the hostage was released, and the carnage finally ended. The entire incident lasted only a few minutes.

There are reports that there may be some home video of the event. Tubbs seriously doubts that. Any camcorder would have been "smuggled" into the venue since cameras were forbidden per the terms of the band's contract. Any available video images would probably come from low quality camera cell phones and would probably only be still photos. None have surfaced as of this writing, but the police may have any existing images impounded as evidence.

As you can see there is more to this story than has generally been reported. According to Jon and Tubbs there were AT LEAST SIX and possibly more TRUE HEROES that night at the Alrosa Villa club. Certainly the police officers risked their lives and deserve our thanks and accolades. Officer James D. Niggemeyer probably saved many lives by taking the intuitive and ending the bloodshed and should be duly honored for his heroics. So too should we honor Erin "Stoney" Halk (who Tubbs emotionally credits with saving his own life), Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson, Nathen Bray, Chris Paluska, and John "Kat" Brooks. Heroes all. Four Roadies and a Fan that disregarded their own safety to protect others. The surviving band members and the 250+ members of the audience may in fact owe their very lives to these heroes. I know Tubbs believes he does.

Tubbs and Jon are both having a hard time dealing with the memories of that night, and they both want to remain out of the public eye. I hope that everyone respects their wishes. They both felt however that a corrected version of this event was important and should be told so that the dead and wounded can be properly honored as heroes... hence this article.

They wanted me to tell everyone that both of them, as well as the entire Alrosa crew, the local Columbus stagehands, the Alrosa club owner and employees, and the family of Erin Halk all deeply appreciate the prayers, the condolences, and the outpouring of love that has been expressed this week in response to this senseless act. They would like everyone to continue to pray for the survivors, the victims, and the victim's families (including the family of Nathan Gale).

Finally I asked Jon and Tubbs if they would stay in the entertainment business after this traumatic experience.

Without hesitation they both said... "Hell yes!"



Written by Karl Kuenning RFL

www.roadie.net

[atomic charvel guy]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

that's some fukkin' read shawn.

[Ace]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

Wow. Brings it all right back. I'm an ex-Marine, I'm a metalhead, I'm a roadie(guitar tech), I'm a guitar player and I am a metal fan. I am also very good with a handgun, and with disarming people. This event unfolded like one of my nightmares. All the elements are there. Metal fans put their lives on the line, and many paid the ultimate price to save the lives of complete strangers. I feel I can relate in some way to every person involved in that story. Wow. Wow. Wow.

[charvelguy]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

sad,*sigh* I'm glad it has been published. I was under the impression from the media reports the cop acted alone and was the only one on the scene. Sure paints a grisly picture of Dimes death, not to mention the other four stage hands/roadies and the one fan that gave their all.

Thanks for posting.

[Badseed]

Re: Phil Anselmo Not Welcome @ Dimebag\'s Funeral

First--When my friend johnny called me at 6 a.m. thursday to tell me what happened, my first thought went to that interview phil gave that i had read on blabbermouth just a few days before.Now, if i thought that immediately, i am sure the Abbotts did too after the shock wore off. Some of my closest freinds cant understand why this has affected me in the way it has.I passed on seeing a show on friday because i just kept having visions of dime dying on the stage.I know that if i had gone, that image wouldve stayed with me all night.It wouldve brought me down.Sometime soon i will start going to shows again, but i know i will think of this when i do.Just like after the great white tragedy.All i thought about is where are the exits, and i made sure i didnt see any pyro lying around.
I think phil deserves the pain he is feeling because, like someone already said ,its the last thing he said about him publicly.If he doesnt like the way it reads after dimes death, he has only himself to blame, not some magazine who he granted an interview for.His words are HIS WORDS and the things he said dont sound like the things he is saying now.Before, he wished him harm-said he could kill him, now he was his brother and best freind.Sorry pal, but i never wished death on someone for saying i had problems and it affected my abilities to perform.That is just an outright rediculous statement in retalliation to what dime said.Drugs or not, those words should ring in that fockers ears til his last day.And his little threat that magazines out an end to his carreer, well, shut up.Seriously, please.Did the magazines make you waste 10 minutes at every show on the trendkill tour bitching because metallicas Load cd dissapointed you?His mouth for war, ended dimes life.That is my belief.Good for Vinnie and the Abbotts for telling to take a hike.

Now for the roadies, that is a great article and it made me envision what it looked like.Gale sounded like he knew what he was doing, being able to take out 5 people in a matter of seconds.That is freakin scary to think about.I do have an issue with the marine corp not looking after this guy when they kicked him out for having what he did.You would think that they would realize that a trained killer with his condition might not be a good thing.He should be carrying a m-16 in Iraq, not killing Innocent people of which he swore to protect when he signed up for the corps.I dont think i'll ever undersand this senseless act.God bless you dime!