Billboard requires a JavaScript enabled browser to get the full experience

Pantera/Coe Album Unearthed For May Release

Comments

After the tragic on-stage murder of "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott in December 2004, few were aware that three of the four members of Pantera had a full album in the vaults.

On May 2, Dimebag's brother and Pantera/Damageplan drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott will inaugurate his independent Big Vin Records with the release of "Rebel Meets Rebel." The album pairs the Abbott brothers and Pantera bassist Rex Brown with country music outlaw David Allen Coe.

"Some of the songs are about gambling, some of them are about broken hearts and some are about drinking," Abbott tells Billboard.com. "There's stuff on there that's balls-out metal, and there's stuff that's country. There's even a flamenco guitar song."

Pantera regularly took to the stage while Coe's "Jack Daniels If You Please" played in the background. Dimebag met Coe after one of his shows and gave him some Pantera merchandise after the set. Thus began a friendship.

"The next time Coe was in town he brought the tour bus to Dime's house and we all got loaded," Abbott says. "The next morning we were in the studio recording a record."

Abbott says that he and his brother had hoped to release the album after recording a second Damageplan record. After the breakup of Pantera and the launch of Damageplan, Abbott says the two feared fans would be confused by another project.

Also on May 2, Big Vin will release "Dimevision Vol. 1," a DVD that collects behind-the-scenes footage of Dimebag. Abbott dismisses those who think he may be cashing in on his brother's legacy. "If the roles were reversed and I was gone, I would want him to be as gung-ho about this as I am," he says. "Anyone who says I'm cashing in can kiss my ass. Nobody knows the pain I've been through."

Up for Discussion

Post Comment

Sort By

More Features

All features

The Chart Game: Can you predict the hotness?

Get your recommended daily allowance of music news in one two-minute video dose.

Soundtrack of My Life

Thanks For Joining Billboard

Log in to create your profile, speak your mind and connect with listeners like you.

Why Join ?

Don't just hear it. Live it. Go deeper than a casual listen: Voice your feelings, build a profile around your favorite music, connect with people who share your passions and discover new ones. Sign up for free.

Complete Your Registration at Billboard.com!

Haven't Joined Yet ?

For the full Billboard experience, you need to be a member. Sign up. It's free.

Join Billboard

Forgot your password?

Enter the e-mail address you used to sign up and we will email you the password .

Email Sent !

Your password has been sent to the email address you provided. Please sign in below :

Log In

Forget your password ?

Action Successful

We'd love to hear your feedback on the new Billboard.com!

Whether it's a feature request or a bug

We want to hear from you. Please use this form to anonymously give us your input.

open
close

CLICK PLAY TO RESUME