R.I.P. Chuck 1967 - 2001

Dispicable Gunman

(written by Skeksi)

If I could just step up on my soap box one moment...Ah there - its high up here. Anyway, I would like to just put my 'two cents' in on the murder of Dimebag Darrell.
I am what you might call a new addition to the world of Metal. My story began on a Catholic High School bus when I started to listen to Metallica's Black Album (yes, probably not the best introduction, but an introduction none the less) - and so my desent into the Dark Arts began. Now, almost ten years later, I listen to what I consider a pretty good mix of music - metal being a primary focus. My respect for this music (yes grandpa, get the potato out of your ears - it IS music) has grown and been reinforced by my boyfriend, who is always finding new bands with ever-broadening talents. But enough about my background...
Dimebag Darrell. I am sad to say that I never was a fan of Pantera, though thanks to Mark (see boyfriend mentioned above and originator of this blog), I have an appreciation to the music the band made. Just a few minutes spent listening to their songs speaks volumes of the immense talent they had. But to the core of my reason for standing up on this lofty soapbox - and the wind is kicking up here - is the manner to which he fell. By a gunman - point blank - during the opening song of Dimebags' new band Damageplan.
Why did you do this, Gunman? You, now lying there in your own puddle of blood - why? With the bullets of your gun, you have just armed every extreme Christian right-wing person out there fighting to put the whole Metal world out of existance? In a post 9-11 world, when tensions are high and everyone needs some out-put of release - usually in the form of a sweaty circle of moshing maniacs at a local club - you have just given more control to those who would see this world come crashing down or at the very least, become regulated and lose all sense of the purpose that Metal set out to accomplish! Who needs an anger management course, when one quick trip to your local metal concert would provide such an awesome avenue of release to the day/week/years' frustration.
Only yesterday did we see the Rappers of the music world get gunned down for whatever senseless reason. Metal, as loud and fast and violent as it sounded, was relatively quiet in that way. A passing fist-fight, words exchanged, egos bruised - but never this - NEVER this. But now, the Metal world will undergo the same scruitiny as Rap. Metal fans, who with as much chains, spikes, piercings, and various other metal attachments, will now have to undergo thorough security checks for each concert they now try to attend, ensuring that several of us will freeze our nads off this coming winter with the longer wait in lines. One rotten apple people - that is all it takes.
You, dispicable Gunman, have ensured that people will view us in the same light as those who shoot and stab over east vs west coast, or over a disagreement at an awards show. Don't you understand?! Parents will force or limit their child to listen only to the likes of Jessica or Ashlee Simpson, or N'Stink, or other pop bands who sing nothing of the world and only those feel-good uppity songs. The one action you have taken may well have set the Metal world back a decade, at the very least!
And why? Why did you do this?! Because Pantera broke up?! In this crazy world, did you even consider the likely possiblity of a reunion tour?! Oh I am sure the rumor mills will fly with various theories on why you did it. And with so many reasons not to do such an abominable act... but you had to sneak your way in like a snake, coil around a musician of enormous talent, who everyone who spoke of as a kind spirit, and snuff out his flame, and in the process, you snake, cutting your own life cord, so that you cannot face the reprecussions of your action in this lifetime - but I am sure many Metal fans, with one less venue of release, will come looking for you in the next life. Oh yes snake, we have your number.

(written by Skeksi)

R.I.P. Darrell 1966 - 2004

Concert list

Here is my concert attendance list for Vighy (these are the shows that I can remember):

metallica 6+ times testament 3+ times anthrax about 3x s.o.d. 1x exodus 1x megadeth at least 2x annihilator 1x helloween 1x slayer 4+ times system of a down 3x fear factory 3x in flames 2x opeth 2x children of bodom 3x hypocrisy 1x cannibal corpse 1x obituary 1x d.r.i. 1x grip inc. 1x morbid angel 1x faith no more 1x pantera 1x ozzy 2x dimmu borgir 1x

kittie 1x cradle of filth 1x biohazard 1x forbidden 1x sepultura 1x soulfly 1x danzig 1x soundgarden 1x rush 1x pearl jam 1x static-x 1x iron maiden 1x wrathchild america 1x type o negative 1x joe stump 1x iced earth 1x dark tranquillity 1x killswitch engage 2x judas priest 1x nevermore 1x korn 1x incubus 1x deftones 1x moonspell 2x

Currently listening to: Decapitated - Spheres of Madness