In Memoriam
Vinnie Paul
March 11, 1964 – June 22, 2018 · aged 54
Groove Metal · Heavy Metal
Vincent Paul Abbott was the thunderous rhythmic engine behind Pantera, widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential heavy metal drummers of all time. Born in Texas in 1964, Vinnie Paul, alongside his guitar-virtuoso brother Dimebag Darrell, pioneered the 'groove metal' subgenre in the early 1990s. Rejecting the overly complex speed of thrash, Paul played with a heavy, swinging, and impossibly tight double-kick drum technique that gave anthems like 'Walk' and 'Cowboys from Hell' their infectious, stomping aggression. After the dissolution of Pantera and the tragic on-stage murder of his brother in 2004, Vinnie Paul returned to the drums to form the supergroup Hellyeah, refusing to let tragedy completely silence his musical spirit. He died suddenly of a severe heart condition on June 22, 2018, at the age of 54. He was laid to rest in a custom KISS casket, finally reunited with his legendary brother.
Milestones
Walk, Cowboys from Hell, Cemetery Gates
Also remembered in 2018
- Aretha Franklin (1942–2018)
- Avicii (1989–2018)
- Dolores O'Riordan (1971–2018)
- Mac Miller (1992–2018)