about Dimebag Darell

AchrisK wrote:

zombiewalkin wrote:

pop riffs?

Yeah. Obviously not top 40 pop, but easily digested, simple yet memorable riffs. Pop (from the word popular) music is just that. Easily digestable, memorable and it makes your body move, with a minimal amount of brain engagement.

Do you play the guitar? It's not so easy to play what Dimebag played. Sure, some riffs are simple, but some I've practiced for weeks and not gotten it down.

mc666 wrote:

overrated is not a good term here. i would say over hyped. everyone knew he was a gifted guitarist, but you didn't hear him cheered as a "legend" until he was murdered. probably because of the way he was murdered. sadly, as popular as Pantera was as a whole, his death made him a sensation moreso than his music ever did. indeed, that is where it's wrong.

A lot of people DO become more famous after their death.. for example, Cliff Burton, Kurt Cobain, etc. I pretty much detest Pantera besides for a few songs. I am also very sick of people coming up to me saying, "OMFG!!!111 Dimebag is TEH best guitarist evaH!!! AlL othUhs SUCk!!!!11" Please. He was far from a virtuouso. However, he had an unmistakable tone and wrote some KILLER riffs, I will agree on that. This is biased though; I don't really like Pantera or Dimebag Darrel.

And I think it's funny... everyone points to "Walk" as Dime's genuis. Sure, that song may be memorable and the most known but still... Pantera has SO many better damn songs! I'm not even a fan and I know that! That's being overrated, or at least having an overrated song and riff.

Smindas wrote:

Whilst I get what you mean, I think the term 'accesible' is more valid than 'pop', just because of pop's connotations.

Yeah, your right. But saying that doesn't get near as much reaction out of people.

Eyesore - No, I don't play, and I'm also not all that familiar with Pantera's stuff. I kinda went off based on someone's comments about the song Walk (which I have never heard, that I know of).

ack

AchrisK wrote:

Smindas wrote:

Whilst I get what you mean, I think the term 'accesible' is more valid than 'pop', just because of pop's connotations.

Yeah, your right. But saying that doesn't get near as much reaction out of people.

Eyesore - No, I don't play, and I'm also not all that familiar with Pantera's stuff. I kinda went off based on someone's comments about the song Walk (which I have never heard, that I know of).

ack

You've never heard "Walk?" You must have. Nine million bands have covered that song (it's that easy!). Haha.

And Dime was a virtuoso.

I'm sorry but Dimebag Darrell was no guitar virtuoso.

That word and "genius" get thrown around WAY too much.

Practice guitar an hour a day for several years and you'll have his stuff down. Go to the gym for the same amount of time and you'll be buff. That doesn't make you a virtuoso or make you ready for Mr. Olympia competitions.

Dime was not a virtuoso... even his most devoted fans admit that.

I disagree temple. Not only was he a virtuoso but he was an innovator. He took the guitar to new sonic levels that i never seen before him. He did mess around and get silly and non-serious alot but he could display crushing chops when he was serious.

I was talking more technical skill. Sure, he wrote some good riffs, nice solos, etc. But any guitarist can do that... he was, in my opinion, not a virtuoso.

Name some guitarists you consider technical?

Temple of Blood wrote:

I'm sorry but Dimebag Darrell was no guitar virtuoso.

That word and "genius" get thrown around WAY too much.

Practice guitar an hour a day for several years and you'll have his stuff down. Go to the gym for the same amount of time and you'll be buff. That doesn't make you a virtuoso or make you ready for Mr. Olympia competitions.

None of that proves anything. You don't have to be a self-indulgent wanker like Yngwie to be a virtuoso. You practice one hour a day for several years and you'll be Billie Joe from Green Day, if you're lucky. You'll not be close to Dime's talent. No way.

People have different opinions on what a virtuoso is. Like Eddie Van Halen for example, when he first came out he blew people away with his refined tapping technique and certain other abilities he had but overall he was not very technical but still considered a virtuoso. Some people say players like Malmsteen or Michael Angelo are virtuoso's just because they play fast and sweep arpeggio all over the place.

Eyesore wrote:

AchrisK wrote:

the song Walk (which I have never heard, that I know of).

ack

You've never heard "Walk?" You must have. Nine million bands have covered that song (it's that easy!). Haha.

Not that I remember. I have no idea what it sounds like. Truthfully I cannot remember one riff or anything from any Pantera song, except maybe a bit of Cemetery Gates. Actually, no. I mostly just remember the part of the video where the guitar strings are moving in slow-mo. There was a brodcast video channel called The Box here like 13 years ago.

I have listened through Cowboys from Hell once (and I didn't hate it) and one other post-Cowboys CD (maybe Vulgar Display) which I did hate. I don't remember anything. It was years ago.

Why is it that I should have heard Walk? There are no metal radio stations, and I hate the radio anyway. I don't watch any MTV or anything else because I only have barebones cable that comes cheap with my internet (like CH 1 - 22 + 96-99) and I have never had cable growing up or at any stage of my life (except for part of last football season and once in like the mid 80's for a month or so). They didn't exist when I was in high school or for years afterward (at least not in the tough-guy metal form).

What bands have covered it?

ack

He was a great player and seemed like a nice dude. He was also in one of the very few US metal bands that kept it heavy in the 90's. For that he has my respect.

troublezone wrote:

Name some guitarists you consider technical?

Jeff Loomis, Marty Friedman, John Petrucci, Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Joe Satriani, Buckethead, Chris Impellitteri, Micheal Angelo Batio, The Great Kat... that enough?

Eyesore wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

I'm sorry but Dimebag Darrell was no guitar virtuoso.

That word and "genius" get thrown around WAY too much.

Practice guitar an hour a day for several years and you'll have his stuff down. Go to the gym for the same amount of time and you'll be buff. That doesn't make you a virtuoso or make you ready for Mr. Olympia competitions.

None of that proves anything. You don't have to be a self-indulgent wanker like Yngwie to be a virtuoso. You practice one hour a day for several years and you'll be Billie Joe from Green Day, if you're lucky. You'll not be close to Dime's talent. No way.

He has definete talent... he was a great and memorable guitar player.. but he does NOT deserve the label virtuso in my eyes. Perhaps if he was still alive, he'd be up there. But I think his death has to do a lot with his fame...

buggie_strikes_back! wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

I'm sorry but Dimebag Darrell was no guitar virtuoso.

That word and "genius" get thrown around WAY too much.

Practice guitar an hour a day for several years and you'll have his stuff down. Go to the gym for the same amount of time and you'll be buff. That doesn't make you a virtuoso or make you ready for Mr. Olympia competitions.

None of that proves anything. You don't have to be a self-indulgent wanker like Yngwie to be a virtuoso. You practice one hour a day for several years and you'll be Billie Joe from Green Day, if you're lucky. You'll not be close to Dime's talent. No way.

He has definete talent... he was a great and memorable guitar player.. but he does NOT deserve the label virtuso in my eyes. Perhaps if he was still alive, he'd be up there. But I think his death has to do a lot with his fame...

Dimebag was already considered a legend before you could walk.

AchrisK wrote:

Why is it that I should have heard Walk?

It just seems like one of those songs that everyone has heard. It's possible someone hasn't heard it, of course; I would just think most metal fans—whether fans of Pantera or not—would have heard such a famous song.

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What bands have covered it?

Tons! I could make a list, if you want?

Eyesore wrote:

buggie_strikes_back! wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

I'm sorry but Dimebag Darrell was no guitar virtuoso.

That word and "genius" get thrown around WAY too much.

Practice guitar an hour a day for several years and you'll have his stuff down. Go to the gym for the same amount of time and you'll be buff. That doesn't make you a virtuoso or make you ready for Mr. Olympia competitions.

None of that proves anything. You don't have to be a self-indulgent wanker like Yngwie to be a virtuoso. You practice one hour a day for several years and you'll be Billie Joe from Green Day, if you're lucky. You'll not be close to Dime's talent. No way.

He has definete talent... he was a great and memorable guitar player.. but he does NOT deserve the label virtuso in my eyes. Perhaps if he was still alive, he'd be up there. But I think his death has to do a lot with his fame...

Dimebag was already considered a legend before you could walk.

We're both biased (you're a Dimebag fan, I am not)... and whether he was truly a virtuoso is total opinion... I think Dimebag was a great guitarist, and I respect him totally, but I do not idolize him. I'm sorry but I do not view him as a virtuoso, and probably never will. Also, I grew up with a heavy metal fan in the house: my dad, who's a few years older than you. I respect your opinion, but I do not agree. By the way, he was a legend... in the eyes of Pantera fans. I really don't think he would've been as popular if not for his death though, I still strongly believe that.

Witchfinder wrote:

He was a great player and seemed like a nice dude. He was also in one of the very few US metal bands that kept it heavy in the 90's. For that he has my respect.

Few U.S. metal bands? Their were tons at the time, just none as popular as Pantera. Also, I do think he was a great player and a nice guy. He has my respect anyhow for being such a modest and skilled guitarist.

buggie_strikes_back! wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

buggie_strikes_back! wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

Temple of Blood wrote:

I'm sorry but Dimebag Darrell was no guitar virtuoso.

That word and "genius" get thrown around WAY too much.

Practice guitar an hour a day for several years and you'll have his stuff down. Go to the gym for the same amount of time and you'll be buff. That doesn't make you a virtuoso or make you ready for Mr. Olympia competitions.

None of that proves anything. You don't have to be a self-indulgent wanker like Yngwie to be a virtuoso. You practice one hour a day for several years and you'll be Billie Joe from Green Day, if you're lucky. You'll not be close to Dime's talent. No way.

He has definete talent... he was a great and memorable guitar player.. but he does NOT deserve the label virtuso in my eyes. Perhaps if he was still alive, he'd be up there. But I think his death has to do a lot with his fame...

Dimebag was already considered a legend before you could walk.

We're both biased (you're a Dimebag fan, I am not)... and whether he was truly a virtuoso is total opinion... I think Dimebag was a great guitarist, and I respect him totally, but I do not idolize him. I'm sorry but I do not view him as a virtuoso, and probably never will. Also, I grew up with a heavy metal fan in the house: my dad, who's a few years older than you. I respect your opinion, but I do not agree. By the way, he was a legend... in the eyes of Pantera fans. I really don't think he would've been as popular if not for his death though, I still strongly believe that.

I realize most of this is opinion. Debating like this is what we music fans do. It's all good until it turns into a fight. It usually turns into a fight online. This forum is somehow different. Weird. Cool, but weird.

Anyway, one thing that I don't think is opinion is this notion that he wouldn't have been popular if he didn't die. The fact is that his death was so tragic that it was totally sensationalized. But that still doesn't change the fact that he was a legendary musician within the metal community before his death. That isn't something only a Pantera fan believes. Yes, his death made a ton of people jump on the bandwagon, but that thing was packed full before that. It's like when a great band somehow score a mainstream hit and a million people jump on the bandwagon, but never stay there. That band, despite only having that one hit song, remains a legendary band. You know?

Based on what i've seen in the Pantera home videos (packed audiences) and the fact that they were #1 on the billboard chart for Far Beyond Driven says alot about what people thought of Dime and his playing long before his death. He has been one of the most popular, influential players in metal for years not just now after his death.

Eyesore wrote:

AchrisK wrote:

Why is it that I should have heard Walk?

It just seems like one of those songs that everyone has heard. It's possible someone hasn't heard it, of course; I would just think most metal fans—whether fans of Pantera or not—would have heard such a famous song.

Since I moved to Tucson (1985), and since I became a Christian (1988) I have not had friends who were really into the stuff that I was into. I had a few friends that liked some metal between 85 and 88, but my music usually kinda scared them, and Pantera was not in it's current format yet. Between 88 and about 1994 I was much more heavily into the Christian metal scene, and was much less aware of the regular metal scene. Also, like I said, no MTV.

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What bands have covered it?

Quote :

Tons! I could make a list, if you want?

Yeah, that's what I was asking. No need to list every band. Just some of the real metal bands.

ack

AchrisK wrote:

Eyesore wrote:

AchrisK wrote:

Why is it that I should have heard Walk?

It just seems like one of those songs that everyone has heard. It's possible someone hasn't heard it, of course; I would just think most metal fans—whether fans of Pantera or not—would have heard such a famous song.

Since I moved to Tucson (1985), and since I became a Christian (1988) I have not had friends who were really into the stuff that I was into. I had a few friends that liked some metal between 85 and 88, but my music usually kinda scared them, and Pantera was not in it's current format yet. Between 88 and about 1994 I was much more heavily into the Christian metal scene, and was much less aware of the regular metal scene. Also, like I said, no MTV.

It's funny, I just read that thread about Christians and music and I read your reply. I pretty much knew that was the answer to my question. Now you write just that. Haha. But I understand. I definitely see the possibility.

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Quote :

What bands have covered it?

Quote :

I could make a list, if you want?

Yeah, that's what I was asking. No need to list every band. Just some of the real metal bands.

Let's see, off the top of my head (not sure what you mean by "real metal," though):

Kilgore
Avenged Sevenfold
Anthrax (live)
Seether
Alice In Chains (live)
Machine Head (live)
Disturbed (live)
Chimaira
36 Crazy Fists
Fear Factory
Damageplan

I know there's more, too. Plus, you've gotta think that thousands of unknown bands covered it.

Dimebag in his teens:

COOL SOLO
WIDOW MAKER (live, from Metal Magic)
HEAVY METAL RULES (live, from Projects In The Jungle) *

* My favorite early Pantera song. It's so good!

Fighting over the internet is like racing in the special olympics.. even if you win, you're still retarded. That is why I choose not to fight over the net. And thanks for the links Eyesore.. I always wanted to hear early Pantera.
By the way... that solo is insane... my favorite thing about Dimebag were his amazing pinch harmonics... those things squeal like a dying pig!