Pantera and Hellyeah drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott was laid to rest during a private funeral service for friends and family in Arlington, TX on June 30.
Paul – who died in his sleep at home in Las Vegas, NV on June 22 at the age of 54 – was buried next to his brother, guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, and their mother, Carolyn, at Moore Memorial Gardens cemetery in a custom Kiss Kasket provided by KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley; Darrell had previously been buried in a similar casket as both were huge fans of the group.
A variety of rockers reportedly spoke at the ceremony, including longtime friend and Grim Reaper guitarist Nick Bowcott, original KISS guitarist Ace Frehley, and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, among others.
The private service was followed by “A Public Celebration Of Life" event at the Bomb Factory in Dallas, TX on July 1, which was streamed live via Paul’s social media sites and can be seen in full below.
The Fort Worth Star Telegram reports Paul's drum kit from Hellyeah sat silently on a stage decorated with flowers from multiple rock stars and other celebrities, including Ozzy Osbourne, Kid Rock, comedian Carrot Top (Paul was a big fan), Black Sabbath's Geezer Butler and bands such as Megadeth, Anthrax, Disturbed, Slayer, Alice In Chains and others.
"We're not mourning Vinnie," said former Pantera tour manager Guy Sykes. “Of course, the world is sad that he's gone… but Vinnie's memory will live on through his music.”
Paul and his brother cofounded Pantera in Arlington, TX in 1981. The group released their debut, “Metal Magic”, in 1983; 1990’s major-label debut and breakthrough, “Cowboys From Hell”, led to a string of platinum albums before they disbanded in 2003.
The Abbott brothers went on to launch Damageplan in 2004; while on tour in support of their debut, “New Found Power”, Dimebag Darrell was shot dead onstage during a December 8, 2004 club show in Columbus, OH.
Vinnie went on to join the new Dallas, TX-based supergroup Hellyeah in 2006, who issued their self-titled debut a year later – the first of five records up to 2016’s “Undeniable.”
See also:
Public memorial announced for Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul
Pantera and Hellyeah drummer Vinnie Paul dead at 54
