Guitarist/Producer JAMES MURPHY Says He Will Always Be In Awe Of What DIMEBAG Accomplished

Guitarist/producer James Murphy (ex-TESTAMENT, DEATH, OBITUARY) has issued the following statement regarding the death of DAMAGEPLAN/ex-PANTERA guitarist Dimebag Darrell:

"I first met Darrell about 18 years ago at a show in Texas around '85-'86. PANTERA was playing to a pretty packed house at this little hole-in-the-wall venue — a bar, really, with a stage jammed into one corner. I had not come for the music, but rather to socialize and have a few drinks. I was only 18 or 19 (18 was old enough to buy beer in Texas and Louisiana in those days) and I had never heard of PANTERA before. I nursed my beer and mingled as the band on stage played a diverse collection of cover songs and soon enough I started to take note of the killer playing of the lone guitarist on stage and became more and more impressed as the band started to work in some original music. I took note of two things in particular: 1. how this band with this single guitarist could sound so thick and powerful on stage, and 2. how that guitarist who looked to be about the same age as me could play so damn well and with such an original style. He was, in my estimation, light years ahead of me.

"As the night was wrapping up I made my way to the band's merchandise table where I noticed some cassette tapes for sale, asked which one was the most recent, and purchased it. I then made my way over to where the guitarist was hanging out off to the side of the tiny stage and introduced myself. Diamond Darrell, as he was known in those days, extended his hand warmly and though he was tired and trying to pack up some gear he still took the time to chat and tell me more about himself and the band. Having met many 'bar band' guitarists by that point from the Texas and Louisiana club circuit I was immediately struck by how truly nice Darrell was by comparison to some of the other guys I had talked to... he showed me his guitar, his rig, and tried to show me a couple cool guitar licks on his unplugged instrument over the din of the bar crowd. I was in awe of this guy, and when I asked he revealed to me that he was less than one year older than me... I was floored and rushed home with my new PANTERA cassette determined to practice until I was on a level somewhere close to Darrell's by the following year.

"That tape was titled 'I Am The Night' and though the tape itself wore out years ago from constant play I recall that the line-up consisted of all but Phil Anselmo out of the line-up we all know from the most famous albums.. i.e., from 'Cowboys from Hell' onward. I liked every song and Darrell's incredibly tight rhythm playing was evident throughout the album, but there was also an instrumental track that showcased Darrell's amazing solo guitar talent, I think it was titled 'D-G-T-T-M' and I wore my fingers and ears out trying to learn it.

"I met Darrell many more times over the years, especially as my career started moving forward in 1990, and no matter how big PANTERA got he was always the same as that first meeting.... genuinely nice. Sometimes he would remember me, other times he didn't seem to at all, but he never treated me any differently.

"I will miss you Darrell, the world will miss you. My deepest sympathies to Vinnie, Rita, and the entire Abbott family as well as to all those like myself who are, have been, and always will be, in awe of what you accomplished, what you played, and most importantly, who you were.

"Rest in peace brother."