“Dime and Rita would’ve been awesome parents” — Zakk Wylde Remembers Dimebag
Pictured: John DeServio, Jeff Fabb, Zakk Wylde + Dario Lorina - BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
Photo by: Justin Reich @justinreich
BLACK LABEL SOCIETY Record Doom Crew Inc.
Written by: Tom Wilson - Sense Music Media | Friday 24 December 2021
Pictured: Zakk Wylde
Photo by: Jen Rosenstein @jenrosenstein
Earlier this month, a wrecking ball came smashing through the walls of the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio, as the infamous venue was bulldozed to make way for an affordable housing development, seventeen years after the horrific shooting that left five people dead. Amongst them was metal legend Dimebag Darrell, famed guitarist for PANTERA, who was murdered onstage by a deranged fan while playing with his new band DAMAGEPLAN. Dime was a guitar hero for legions of metal fans. His music literally changed my life. For Zakk Wylde – legendary axeman for OZZY OSBOURNE and BLACK LABEL SOCIETY – he was a brother in arms, and an amazing friend. Talking to Sense to promote the latest BLACK LABEL SOCIETY record Doom Crew Inc, in his kitchen cooking meat while wearing Viking horns (yes, seriously), he gave his thoughts on the demolition. “I just saw that, and it was before I posted on Dime’s anniversary – [the anniversary] of when we lost him – somebody had showed me a thing, and I guess it was the day before, on the 7th, they actually demolished the building.”
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How did you feel about it? Did you think it was weird that they kept playing shows there?
Yeah, I guess it would be. I mean, I saw some thing where somebody was like, “I just feel weird even playing here.” Yeah, I agree … It’s a bizarre thing, because you’re sitting on that stage and that’s where Dime lost his life – several people lost their lives that day. I would think that is kind of like a weird thing, you know? I agree.
Would you have ever played there if somebody had asked you to?
Nah, I don’t think so. I don’t think you’d want it, you know what I mean? It’s just a weird thing. Play at another venue … It’s kind of a weird thing. When I think of Dime, I don’t think about that. I think about all the amazing awesome times, and all the ridiculous comedy, man! [Laughs] I think Dime’s legacy is right there with Tony Iommi, in regards that they started a genre of music. All the bands in that genre of extreme metal are compared to PANTERA, you know what I mean? That’s the benchmark. It’s like all the heavy rock bands that play heavy, dark riffs, it’s BLACK SABBATH … that’s the benchmark for that style of music. It’s the same thing with PANTERA. Everybody in that genre of music … they created that groove metal, power metal, whatever you want to call it. They set the benchmark for sure.
Pictured: Dimebag Darrell (1966-2004)
Photo by: James Cumpsty @james.cumpsty
“I think Dime’s legacy is right there with Tony Iommi, in regards that they started a genre of music”
— Zakk Wylde
Do you think, if Dime was alive, he would’ve had kids?
He would’ve made a great dad, anyway, just because he was a caring, loving, compassionate guy. So’s Rita [Haney] too. I think Dime and Rita would’ve been awesome parents, without a doubt. Yeah, without a doubt, because they were just awesome people. [Laughs]
When Vinnie [Paul] was still around, I remember the rumour mill was swirling around that they were trying to make a reunion happen with you on guitar. Was your heart ever into that? Or was that not really something you were interested in?
Yeah, I mean it would kind of be like if Eric Clapton was going to go out with Noel and Mitch and sing and play Jimmy’s stuff, in tribute and honour of Jimmy. That’s the way I always approached it, the same way I play Saint Rhodes’ stuff every night when I’m up there with Ozzy. It’s the same way – you’re celebrating his greatness and his legacy. That’s the way I always looked at it, you know?
Pictured: Ozzy Osbourne + Zakk Wylde
Photo by: Joe Giron
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