Take Your Rest Now And Be At Peace!
Vincent Paul Abbott, aka Vinnie Paul a son to Carolyn and Jerry Abbott (a country music songwriter and record producer), and an older brother to Darrell Lance Abbott aka Dimebag Darrell. He grew up with music, and it played a huge role in his life. Ultimately got influenced by his father getting him to learn how to play the instrument.
Vinnie Paul shared his moments, with Teri Saccone, Modern Drummer Magazine, August 1994, when he was just a kid where his father enrolled him in the school band.
“I was sitting in the living room, trying to play this tuba, when my dad came in and said, ‘What in the hell are you doing with that thing?’ I said, ‘This is what I’m gonna do.’ He said, ‘You’re never gonna make a penny in this world playing a tuba,’ and then he took me right back to school. I was totally heartbroken. But he said, ‘Look, you’re gonna play drums. You can do really well with them.’ I still wanted the tuba, but the next thing I knew I was trying out the drums, and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.”
Vinnie Paul was able to record nine studio albums and one live album with Pantera, and some of it was produced independently by his father.
Cowboys From Hell released in 1990 was their first breakthrough album which is considered their first album, and it’s still selling over a million copies to this very day. They managed to establish themselves as one of the greatest heavy metal bands of all time and went on to release four more albums which became successful as well: Far Beyond Driven (1994), which debuted at #1 in the Billboard 200, making it the first extreme metal album to top the chart; The Great Southern Trendkill (1996), Official Live: 101 Proof (1997) and Reinventing The Steel (2000).
Sadly Pantera broke up in 2003 due to a feud between Phil Anselmo and the Abbott brothers. But the two, as hardworking men, they didn’t waste their time and began working on a new project immediately.
The managed to build a lineup with Bob Zilla (bass guitar) and Pat Lachman (vocals) and called themselves as Damageplan. They released an album back in 2004 called New Found Power. Shockingly they broke-up shortly after Dimebag Darrell’s murder. Devastated to his brother’s death, Vinnie Paul took an extended hiatus from music and trying to figure out if he wanted to keep playing.
Though he was in an 18-month break, it didn’t stop him to create his own record label, preserving his brother’s legacy. Big Vin Records was born in 2006, and the very first album it got released was Rebel Meets Rebel, which was a collaboration work between Pantera (without Phil Anselmo) and country singer David Allan Coe.
“’Working on this record,’ Vinnie says, ‘I feel like I’m still working with him. It’s been like therapy and really good for me. And this record will add to Dime’s incredible legacy and ensure that he lives on forever. I feel good about that.’”
And after working hard to release Rebel Meets Rebel, he then joined a heavy-metal supergroup called Hellyeah. They did well since their inception, and they were able to release at least three albums: Hellyeah (2007), Stampede (2009) and Band of Brothers (2012).
Vinnie Paul was an absolute competent drummer because of being influenced by legends such as John Bonham, Mikkey Dee, Alex Van Halen and Neil Peart. Peter Criss, and especially Tommy Aldridge were the major reasons behind his eagerness to play two bass drums.
His drumming is definitely one of the greatest examples of how to produce groovy beats and sound within metal music. Well, we all know metal is just more about power, speed, and volume when it comes to drumming. But Vinnie Paul proved, especially with Pantera’s music, that is about the groove as well, not just power, speed nor volume. And if you don’t believe me, you should check Pantera’s music — it will definitely get you into heavy metal if you’re not into it.
“When I started out I played single bass, but in ’83 I started buying records by Mötley Crüe and Ozzy Osbourne. Tommy Lee’s double bass playing on “Live Wire” just blew me away, and I knew I couldn’t do that with one bass drum. Then Tommy Aldridge made me flip when I heard him with Pat Travers—he played all of these cool fills with two bass drums. (…) So I really became obsessed about how to do all this, and my dad got me a second bass drum. I started playing and developing it from there.”
His death surely shocked everyone, especially his family, friends, and fans. It’s like it opened up old wounds. Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darell (The Abbot brothers) surely blessed our lives with their groundbreaking music. Rest In Peace “The King of Thrash Metal Drumming.”
Vinnie Paul was absolutely one of the best, and he can be put in the spot alongside with John Bonham and Ginger Baker. His works with Pantera and Hellyeah were something. He will surely be miss.
Before you go, check out the best of Vinnie Paul with Pantera and Hellyeah and FEEL THE HEAVY METAL GROOVE:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WH2_Yq0wm3I