Heavy Metal Sunday, R.I.P, Dimebag. 1966-2004

From Wikipedia:

Darrell Lance Abbott, also known as "Diamond" Darrell, "Dimebag" Darrell, or simply "Dime" (August 20, 1966 – December 8, 2004) was an American guitarist. Best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan, he also performed in the country music band Rebel Meets Rebel. Abbott frequently appeared in guitar magazines and in readers' polls, where he was often included in the top ten metal guitarist spots. In addition, he wrote a long-running Guitar World magazine column, which has been compiled in the book Riffer Madness. Remembered for his amiable nature and rapport with fans, critic Greg Prato describes Abbott as "one of the most influential stylists in modern metal."

On December 8, 2004, while performing with Damageplan at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Abbott was shot onstage by a mentally ill former US Marine named Nathan Gale. Abbott was shot three times in the head, killing him instantly. Damageplan's drum technician, John "Kat" Brooks, and tour manager, Chris Paluska, were injured. Gale fired a total of fifteen shots, taking the time to reload once, and remaining silent throughout the shooting.

Brooks was scuffling with Gale onstage but was overpowered and taken hostage in a headlock position. Brooks was shot several times (once in the right hand, his right leg, and his right side) while attempting to get the gun away from Gale. Five officers came in the front entrance led by officer Rick Crum, and moved toward the stage. Officer James D. Niggemeyer came in through the back door, behind the stage. Gale only saw the officers in front of the stage; he never saw Officer Niggemeyer. When the hostage moved his head, Officer Niggemeyer killed Gale by shooting him in the face with a police-issued Remington 870 shotgun. Gale was found to have 35 rounds of ammunition remaining. Nurse and audience member Mindy Reece, 28, went to the aid of Abbott. She and another fan administered CPR until paramedics arrived, but were unable to revive him.

We should remember Dimebag not just because he was an amazing guitarist, excellent writer and by all reports a friendly man who always had time for his fans, but for an essay written by William Grim called the Aesthetics of Hate: R.I.P. DIMEBAG ABBOTT, & GOOD RIDDANCE. Basically, Mr. Grim is of the opinion that good music has to be 200 years old, and that anyone who likes metal is a subhuman barbarian who deserves death. Fun guy. The link includes a reply from MachineHead's Robert Flynn.

So, grab a shot of your favorite whiskey, sit back, and bang your head with Pantera, live in Seoul, South Korea, performing their signature tune Cowboys from Hell.. with a few fun add ons.

Hey! The Niners are winning games all of a sudden!

San Francisco 49ers: 24
New York Jets: 14

We actually look like a football team again. I think we keep Mike Singletary as a Head Coach.

Merry Democratmas!

From Doc Smartass of alt.atheism

"Wingnuts Thrashing on a Funeral Pyre"

Wingnuts thrashing on a funeral pyre
Coulter's jaw is wired closed
The GOP's grip on us has expired
Their Empire fell right on its nose

Everybody knows Bill Clinton can still set them off
So does Hillary, his wife
Now their power over us is cut off
There goes "Majority for life!"

They brought it on themselves, you know
With torture, lies, and slander, Plumber Joe!
The professional hysterics all now cry
That Sarah Palin 2012 is gonna fly

And now they're languishing in their limbo
Just like they did in '92
John McCain was the best they could do
Along with Barbie Caribou!

(music pad, 10 bars)

Now we pick up after Pubbie slobs
(That's forty-one and forty-three)
Forty-four has one heckuva job
Can he do it? We'll see.