Former OZZY Drummer BRIAN TICHY: 'DIMEBAG Was A Genuine Badass'

Former OZZY OSBOURNE/PRIDE & GLORY drummer Brian Tichy has issued the following statement in memory of DAMAGEPLAN/ex-PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott:

"To Vinnie, DAMAGEPLAN, PANTERA and all of Dime's friends and family.... I am so shocked by this. I feel so sorry for Vinnie and all of Dime's friends. Without a doubt, Dime was one of the baddest rock guitarists to ever walk the planet and one of the funniest people I've ever hung with. Rooms of people would gravitate around him and he's not even trying. Dime LIVED more than just about anyone I know. Don't bother trying to keep up with him. Undeniable non-stop creativity... He was somebody I totally RESPECTED, LOOKED UP TO AND ENVIED. You couldn't deny his power, presence and charisma. He lived a lifestyle that revolved solely around his guitar, his music and the eternal party, not letting anything get in the way of having the best time possible. He really was larger than life. Watch the PANTERA home videos!

"Dime has been stealing the show ever since he unleashed the 'Cowboys From Hell' riff back in '90. He and PANTERA were laying down some new rules then! You can hear his influence in just about every band with heavy guitars!

"At least Dime left so much incredibly powerful music to listen to in his memory...

"PANTERA has been my favorite metal band since 'Vulgar' came out. I've ran many miles listening to that and 'Far Beyond Driven'.

"PANTERA was on the 2000 Ozzfest when I was playing drums for Ozzy. I was psyched to be playing for Ozzy, but I was also psyched to be on tour with PANTERA. It was a daily ritual to warm up for the Ozzy show while watching Dime, Vinnie, Philip and Rex crush every night.

"While I was on the side of the stage and they were playing 'Walk', Dime was singing the backups in the chorus, screaming out 'Tichy' instead of 'Re' or 'spect'. Too funny.

"I took Dime and Vinnie's bus from one city to the next one night and of course that was my biggest hangover of the year. We all ended up screaming to METALLICA's 'Kill 'Em All' and I woke up hours later passed out on the front lounge floor.

"I feel privileged to have been able to be around Dime and experience his energy up close. I can't believe there will never be a time when the world doesn't get to watch him play. Bottom line is he was a genuine badass.

"Anybody can shoot a gun but barely anybody can touch what Dime did in 38 years. It sucks to have to accept when a useless lunatic decides to do something so heinous, innocent people have no control over the self-centered retarded insanity...

"DIMEBAG FUCKIN' RULES! R.I.P."