Vinnie Paul, Pantera Drummer and Heavy Metal Innovator, Is Dead at 54

[Gerald]

Vincent P. Abbott, the drummer known as Vinnie Paul who was a founder of the heavy metal band Pantera and helped transform the genre in the 1990s, died on Friday. He was 54.
The band confirmed his death in a statement on its Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Pantera/posts/10156544373084697).
Kimberly Zide Davis, the manager for Pantera, said Mr. Abbott died at his home in Las Vegas. A cause of death was not immediately available.
Pantera was founded in 1981 and rose to prominence in the 1990s, embracing sharper, deeper grooves and harder-edged sounds that pushed the genre into a heavier direction.


https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/23/arts/music/vinnie-paul-dead.html


RIP Vinnie

[JU_88]

RIp :(

[Sean C]

Pantera is one of my all time favorite bands, if not my most favorite. I read about this last night and it totally bummed me out. AFAIK, they haven't released a cause of death yet. But I wouldn't be surprised if it was due to alcohol or a drug overdose - or the effects of having used them heavily over a long period of time. The guys were hell-raisers to begin with and I'm sure that having to see your own brother and longtime band mate gunned down in front of you doesn't help.


R.I.P. Vinnie and Dime. Your music has enhanced and influenced my life since I was young, and I'm sure it will continue to do so.