How would you rate Dimebag Darrell?

[Cyrokk]

Cool.You never told me that, fuckface!

It was kinda weird. Pantera worked their fucking asses off in Dallas and no one really noticed. You'd hear rock djs pissing all over themselves about Stevie Ray, ZZ Top and Eric Johnson-guys who had nothing to do with the Dallas Ft. Worth area, but to them Pantera was like an eyesore that wouldn't go away. It seemed like the band was trying hard to grab every club they could force themselves into, but the hicks in that horrid city just denied their existence.

Anselmo came along, they gave Dallas a well-deserved fuck you and made their presence known elsewhere.

I haven't met any other famous metallers, but I got Page and Beck's autograph from a mutual friend, made Tony Iommi give me the devil sign during one of his solos, and almost approached Tom Keiffer of Cinderella at a guitar show (he looked like he had too much heroin and booze the night before, and I didn't want to get the shit beat out of me).

 

[crazyjman]

he looked like he had too much heroin and booze the night before, and I didn't want to get the shit beat out of me).

And nobody wants to get beat up by a dude wearing panty hose! Good call

 

[NRS]

It was kinda weird. Pantera worked their fucking asses off in Dallas and no one really noticed. You'd hear rock djs pissing all over themselves about Stevie Ray, ZZ Top and Eric Johnson-guys who had nothing to do with the Dallas Ft. Worth area, but to them Pantera was like an eyesore that wouldn't go away. It seemed like the band was trying hard to grab every club they could force themselves into, but the hicks in that horrid city just denied their existence.

I was suprised just how little media coverage was given to the guys death too, especially based on how bizzarely tragic he died. Seems it was no real news to anyone but other musicians and core Pantera fans. (I think Brittney Spears farting gets more media attention than that!)

Whether your into metal or not though, its hard to deny the guy was indeed a gifted musician with a lot of raw talent. I'd imagine he would have been equally good at violin or jazz had he chosen to pursue that, but instead just chose to pursue a style of music that gets far less respect from the mainstream.

If I could sum up Dimebag in one word, I'd have to say "underrated"

 

[capnkid]

He played through a solid stade Randall too didn't he? I think a lot of kids that grew up with the Rock/Metal bands that portrayed "The Party" lifestyle actually ended up partying more than the bands they admired.

They say Dime could play just as good wasted, and I don't know of anyone who is like that.

 

[Cyrokk]

His rig according to Wiki:

"Dimebag's main rig included:

Randall RG100H heads and cabinets (1983 - 1991, 1996 - 1999)
Randall Century 200 heads and cabinets (1992 - 1995, 2000)
Randall Warhead heads and cabinets (2000 - 2004)
Randall X2 Warhead heads and cabinets (2004)
Krank Revolution heads and cabinets (late 2004)
Furman PQ4 parametric equalizer (1990 - 1995)
Furman PQ3 parametric equalizer (1996 - 2004)
MXR Six band graphic equalizer ('the blue one')
MXR flanger / doubler (1990 - 2004)
Lexicon effect modules
Korg Ax30g
Rocktron Guitar silencer
Digitech Whammy pedal
Jim Dunlop Crybaby 535Q Crybaby From HELL

When Dime left Washburn a few weeks before his death, he also left Randall Amps. Dimebag had always swore by his solid-state Randall's through the years, but in late 2004 he switched to Krank amplifiers, which were purely tube driven. He planned to redefine his very own sound by developing the "Krankenstein". He used the MXR Zakk Wylde Overdrive with the Krank amps."

I should say too that the album he gave me wasn't their demo like I thought, but their second album "Projects in the Jungle".

Unfortunately for me, I'm in the complete minority in that I never liked his tone (it sounded too dry and lacking mids to my ears), but I've always had a lot of respect for him for the ambition he and his brother had to push the band to the success they attained.

 

[Gorty]

Unfortunately for me, I'm in the complete minority in that I never liked his tone (it sounded too dry and lacking mids to my ears), but I've always had a lot of respect for him for the ambition he and his brother had to push the band to the success they attained.

I totally agree with you!
He was a great player, no questions there but I found his tone too nasally! I would of liked to of heard some rhythm guitar behind more of his leads.

 

[skyguitarworks]

Dime was truely one of a kind on and off the stage, great guy. what kills me is the night he was killed I had planned on going that night but things happened and i could not go (the alrosa is only 80 miles from me, have been there too many times to mention over the years).
It kills me to think he was killed on stage right in front of his brother. I agree with one of the earlier posts, he was to the 90's what eddie was to the 80's and what Randy would have been if he had lived.
As far as style, he was original, and to see how many people's lives were touched so much by his death is a testiment to the type of guy he was off stage.