ANNIHILATOR Guitarist Remembers Touring With DIMEBAG And PANTERA

ANNIHILATOR mainman Jeff Waters has posted the following message in the group's official discussion forum:

"As [far as] writing a tune for Dimebag [is concerned], I think many artists will be thinking about him in a song, be it in lyrics or music. The day after I heard about this tragedy, I jotted a few things down.

"BUT I was very put off by (at least) one notable musician, who seemed to have jumped at the chance to use Dime's passing as a forum to promote their own publicity/self. Granted, 99 percent of the 'stars' commenting on Dime were fans and/or friends of his but the one or two oppotunistic buggers actually discouraged me to continue writing this tune/lyric I had started; I felt like I myself might be or be seen to be taking advantage, in some little way.

"Maybe I will do something in his memory but I will be happy to do it quietly rather than announcing it to the world.

"I will share with my forum-goers a funny short-story about one of my recollections of Dime and myself.

"As some of you know, we toured with PANTERA and [JUDAS] PRIEST on the 1991 'Painkiller' tour. We shared a tour bus with PANTERA. We had a bit of an attitude back then (as did most young and drunk bands!) and really were puzzled why PRIEST had brought these guys (head-shaven/crazy/tattoed frontman — redneckish dudes) as a support act, as no one knew who they were. We knew and heard that they were good but thought them to be kinda unique and a bit too different for our liking! Ironically, a few years later, Dime and PANTERA taught me that this difference and uniqueness were things I only wished I could put into my own writing/sound/band. And then I became a huge PANTERA fan. Their 'groove' was injected into a good half-dozen my songs from 1994 onwards ('Perfect Virus'/'Annihilator' to name only a few),although I could never come close to pumping out the power they produced. They mastered the METALLICA/SABBATH vibe but made it their own.

"Back on track here, 'Cowboys From Hell' had been released in the USA then but not really in Europe. ANNIHILATOR, however, were on top of the world and selling big album #'s. A year or so later, PANTERA started to take over the world and ANNIHILATOR were then only wishing for their 'success!'

"But here is my little tasteful story:

"One cold night, in 1991, before the 'war' started in Yugoslavia (our managers seemed to have failed to tell us all that we were playing a gig in a any-second-this-will-be-a-war-zone-country!),Dime and I got real drunk, watched PRIEST's set, then went into the catering room and we both giggled and childishly peed on the 'deli/vegi-tray!'

"We were getting really drunk. Then we grabbed more beers and went back to watch PRIEST. The catering girls somehow figured out that it was the two of us (musta been the giggling!) so they brilliantly drained the pee-filled vegi platter and then wrapped it up and put it on our tour bus for afterward the show. (they would always put food and stuff on the bus for the night-time travels/4 AM munchies!)

"The lovely and crafty catering girls told everyone, except Dime and I, what they had done. After the PRIEST show, we all staggered onto the bus and left for the next country . . . While all watched on quitely, Dime and I sat in the front lounge, devouring a really delicious tray of veggies and fruit... and each other's pee!

"I think I have another dozen or so but this one will suffice!

"RIP, metal brother. Along with Hetfield, Rhoads, King, Hanneman, Van Halen, Iommi and a few other select metal guitar-geniuses, you will always be one of metal guitar playing's biggest influences. Thanks for doing what you did for metal and metal guitar-playing."