Challenger

On December 8, 2004, one of the greatest musical geniouses to ever be known by mankind and the musical world was tragically murdered. That’s right, Darrell Lance Abbott, a.k.a. Dimebag (or Diamond) Darrell was shot in the face by a crazed psychopath during Dime’s tour with Damageplan. Dimebag, to all the people who don’t know, was the lead guitarist of Pantera and Damageplan.

It was a senseless death that angers me and has me aching with sorrow. How a could a man with such positivity and creativity be so ruthlessly taken from us at the young age of 38? It depresses me to no end. The man was at the top of his game giving his all and just trying to do what he loved when his life was stolen from him.

Is that what America is becoming today? A group of no-brained people just out to destroy the only good things worth living for? I know that might be a little harsh but the reality is people everywhere are being murdered. How are you supposed to know whether or not you’re going to be next? There’s no way to prepare for being murdered. If there was I’m sure Dime would have taken those measures, as I’m sure everyone else would, too.

I would like to send out my condolences (even though I’m sure they’re never going to see this school newspaper) to Vinnie Paul (Damageplan’s drummer and Darrell’s brother), Rita (Dime’s common-law wife), and the rest of the world out there that was as deeply affected by Dime’s death as I am.

There’s one particular thing bout this that people have been peeving me off with. Okay, I can understand if someone has never heard of Pantera, Damageplan, or Darrell. I mean, I know that everyone has differant tastes in music and what they choose to educate themselves on, and I respect that. But people who know about Dime’s death and are like, “Well, there goes one more evil drug addict, who cares, he deserved it in the first place.”
That is just plain ridiculous! Dimebag was a person just like anybody elase, and maybe better than some, he had every right to live his own life. He was an optimistic guy who always looked for the positive while he drank like a fish obviously, just look at his

Nickname, smoked marijuana, was completely against hard drugs. People really should educate themselves on what they’re talking about before they go spouting their mouths off about things they don’t even know the facts about! Also, the fact that Dime played the music he loved doesn’t mean he was evil or deserved to die. I bet if Alan Jackson or Jay-Z or whoever it is that you listen to died, you’d be devestated. So all the people out there who are just being downright mean and ignorant please learn a little more respect for the people who did give a hoot that a great man was taken from us.

I love you Dimebag Darrell. You were a great inspiration to so many! Rest in peace wherever you are!