DIMEBAG's Girlfriend Says DAMAGEPLAN Singer 'Turned Out Not To Be The Person We Thought He Was'

UK's Metal Hammer magazine conducted an interview with late PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott's girlfriend of 20 years, Rita Haney, for its January 2008 issue, which celebrates Dimebag's life and musical accomplishments. A couple of excerpts from the chat follow:

Metal Hammer: How are thing with Phil [Anselmo, former PANTERA singer] and Rex [Brown, former PANTERA bassist] and you?

Rita: I loved both of those boys with all my heart and soul, but I can't love them now. When Darrell forgives them, then I can. It hurts me to have to say that and to know that.

Metal Hammer: How badly did Phil pulling himself away from PANTERA affect Darrell on a personal level? And also the feud that exploded in the press between Phil and the others [see previous BLABBERMOUTH.NETstories containing quotes from Phil and the other guys — Ed.]?

Rita: I have a two-page letter where [Dimebag] wrote Philip. And it says, "I am done with him. I will never stand on stage with him and I will never give him the recognition he thinks he deserves because I know I never did anything wrong to him." And it says, "No longer will he trample through my peaceful mind." When I found that in [Dimebag's] bunk [after he was murdered], I cried.

Metal Hammer: Do you think that had Darrell not been murdered that he and Vinnie might have eventually made their peace with Phil, and PANTERA might have gotten back together?

Rita: I know Darrell had thoughts about it. He was having problems with Patrick [Lachman, DAMAGEPLAN singer], who turned out totally not to be the person we thought he was. He started trying to give ultimatums about not singing PANTERA songs and Darrell goes, "Let me tell you something: this is who I am. Whether I'm called that or not, that's my heart and soul, and yes, you will sing them. You knew it when you joined this band."

Metal Hammer: And things with Rex [Brown, former PANTERA bassist]?

Rita: Darrell talked to Rex on [Dimebag's 38th] birthday — August 20, 2004 — and he told Rex straight-up, "Dude, I'm not going to go out and have a steak with you today. Maybe I will in the future. The reason I'm talking to you right now is because we have a history. You lived on my couch, my mother was your mother, you were my brother. But you are just as much to blame for this whole thing, and quit blaming it all on Phil. You need to answer for yourself." And Rex kept saying, "Well, Phil was gonna do it anyway," and Darrell says, "I don't care — answer for yourself. Because you know what, motherfucker? You got a free ride through this PANTERA thing. So don't tell me it's all Phil's fault — you were along for the full-meal deal!" That's why there's a credit on "DimeVision" [the "DimeVision - Vol 1: That's The Fun I Have" 2006 DVD tribute to Dimebag compiled largely by Rita Haney] that says, "Rex Rocker — Full Meal Deal."

For more information on Metal Hammer's January 2008 issue, go to this location.

Former DAMAGEPLAN singer Patrick Lachman talking to Fuse TV about Dimebag a few days after Abbott's murder in December 2004:

Rita Haney hanging out at NAMM 2007: