Dropping a Dimebag

Editor's note: We take it all back. Dimebag Darrell Abbott was the most awesome guitarist-- no, make that the greatest musician of any type-- who ever lived. ThePitch was completely out of line to suggest in its December 23 issue that some of the latter-day adulation for the murdered Damageplan and Pantera guitarist might have reached ridiculous heights ("Body Bag" by Geoff Harkness). Harkness was clearly insane when he criticized those comparing Abbott to another slain musician, John Lennon. In fact, Lennon was just a hack compared with the ax-thrashing genius of Abbott. This became clear to us as we dug through the hundreds of angry messages the newspaper received from enlightened music fans from around the country. Here's just a sample (read more at pitch.com):

You piece of shit fucking asshole. You need to have your head taken out of your boyfriend's asshole and realize that Dimebag is and always will be one of the greatest guitar players ever. If you belittle him in comparison to John Lennon, that's sad. The Beatles are by far the most overrated band in the world. They couldn't put as much feel in their music as Dimebag nor as much skill as Dimebag had ever! He is a legend because he is an awesome person, and I know because I have met him and he is a good friend and an unbelievable guitar player. Yes he can drink like a motherfucker. However, he is known primarily for his guitar playing and his relations to his fans. Have fun listening to Britney Spears. Go home and jack off by yourself and write some more columns that amplify the fact that you have no fucking clue about anything that you write about. See you in hell, cocksucker!

Ryan Zimmerman
Edina, Minnesota

I work at a classic-rock radio station, and I hope you rot for this. You obviously aren't a fan of Damageplan or Pantera. If you had a shred of compassion, you wouldn't have ripped on Darrell Abbott and the people who think he's an incredible musician. That's right. He's a guitar legend. I think that qualifies him to be in the same category as Jimi Hendrix. For us "metal heads," this is our John Lennon. We will always talk about his guitar riffs just like we talk about Slash, Zakk Wylde or Jerry Cantrell's ability to play. Haven't you noticed how many people are in mourning? It's about the passion. Something you'll never understand and that makes me wonder why anyone would hire you.

Cari Meyer
Mankato, Minnesota

Hey, Geoff, who the fuck are you? Nobody knows who the fuck you are, but everyone knows who Dimebag is! He could outplay you on guitar any day, anytime. You're a fucking degenerate loser who is just jealous that he doesn't have one-tenth of the talent that Dimebag possessed. Please crawl back into your hole, you piece of shit! You should be showing respect to Dimebag, but instead you choose to disrespect him. You better watch your back, motherfucker.

Name Withheld by Request

Thanks for having the balls to write this article. I myself am a huge metal fan and know that Abbott's death is very sad. But I had been thinking the same thing about the comparison to Mr. Abbott and John Lennon, and it's absurd, really. Dimebag was without a doubt a very good metal guitarist and performer, but one of music history's best? A music icon? I think not.

Tom Schmidt
Scottsdale, Arizona

Since day one of this tragedy, I was waiting for a low life to bring this up, and here you are. So you're trying to make a name for yourself by writing this; what a man you are. Darrell's musical talent and skill was bigger then his drinking habits and record sales. You will never come close to bring to journalism what he brought to music, not even an ounce, get it?

Eric Galy
Verdun, Quebec

As for the John Lennon comparison, I'm sure Mike Portnoy was speaking in terms of the "metal world." To us, yes, this was like John Lennon being shot. Of course, you failed to mention that Mr. Portnoy might also have made the comparison because it just happened to be the same day Lennon was shot and killed by a crazed fan, just like Darrell Abbott. Yes, Damageplan's album hadn't sold much, but within the metal world, that is a great number of albums to have sold. Give the band some credit for selling that many albums with no promotion whatsoever from Elektra (other than the occasional Headbanger's Ball appearances). Yes, Dimebag worshipers are a dime a dozen, but we were all here before he was killed. Of course we weren't all on the message boards writing about how great he is. He was alive. When people die, we reflect, and that's what we, the metal community, are doing. Would his death have been more tragic if he was playing a stadium or an arena? Since it was in front of 200 people it's less tragic? I can't for the life of me see how you music journalists see this as "no big deal." The way I see it, you music journalists are a dime a dozen.