Black Cat Bone

Vinnie Paul, co-founder and drummer of the metal band Pantera, has died aged 54, the band announced on Facebook







.

RIP

Pantera helped rescue metal in the nineties.
Great drummer. Very influential.

A tattooist friend, who’s a pretty gifted drummer himself, hooked up with Vinnie whilst they were touring here. He invited him back to his place out in Kent and was surprised when Vinnie knocked on the door on a day off. He gave a free lesson, jammed with all those hastily invited over and stayed until the early hours telling stories. He kept in touch with my friend eventually got inked by him. A sweet guy, it must have been so hard to carry on after the tragedy of the death of his brother. Love Pantera, although Anselmo is a dick. RIP Vinnie.

Such a tragic family story. I really have a soft spot for these knuckleheads.

Yeah it's too bad. I rather liked Vinnie, and Darryl. It took me a long time to get into Pantera but I keep Vulgar Display of Power handy in the car, because there are certain days you just NEED to drive really fast to the sound of "Fucking Hostile."

That story Jumper K just told fits right in with what I knew about him and makes me happy. He made a bunch of peoples' day, probably not the only time he did something like that.

I also found it touching to read that he and his brother used to say "Van Halen!" to each other as they were getting ready to go onstage. Their personal shorthand for "let's go kick some ass!"