VINNIE PAUL On HELLYEAH: 'It Was So Nice To Be 100 Percent Embraced By The Fans From The Start'

June 9, 2007

Andre Mihsin of ChartAttack.com recently conducted an interview with drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott (HELLYEAH, PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN). A few excerpts from the chat follow:

On forming HELLYEAH with members of MUDVAYNE and NOTHINGFACE:

"They needed a drummer and they wanted a heavy hitter, and I was the guy that came to mind. Well, I guess persistence pays off because they kept calling me and calling me and calling me.

"One night I said, 'You know what, that sounds like a damn good idea. Let's give it a shot.' And that's how it all started."

On the fact that he hadn't played in a band since his brother, former PANTERA guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, was murdered on stage on Dec. 8, 2004:

"I knew I was going to play music again. I just didn't know at what point it would happen.

"There was quite a few people that contacted me about playing, but I didn't feel like it was the right situation just yet and it wasn't really anything that made me super excited. I told myself it would have to be a special situation, and that's what happened here."

On taking on a leadership role during the recording sessions for the HELLYEAH album:

"I've always felt like I was much more than just a drummer. I've always wanted to be a producer of every record I've been a part of.

"I don't really play any other instrument properly, so the way for me to get my input in, to shape songs, is to be able to produce them, and I took on that role on this record. All the guys really learned quite a bit from me, and we worked together really great.

"We had super chemistry, and that was the most important thing from the start. When we went into the thing, there were no egos. Everybody just brought their cards to the table and it happened really quickly. We wrote seven songs in the first eight days we were together, and we really felt like we were on to something really special at that point."

On the depature of bassist Jerry Montano following an incident at the group's CD release party where Montano allegedly got drunk and became violent:

"We all miss Jerry and wish him the very best. We just felt like it was the right thing to do for HELLYEAH to continue moving forward and be successful."

On HELLYEAH's first gig, which took place on May 20 in Baltimore:

"It was amazing, man. It was way more than I could have dreamed for.

"It was so nice to be 100 percent embraced by the fans from the start. They were chanting 'HELLYEAH' from the minute we hit the stage and they knew all the songs and they were singing along with them. They filled the house and it was just a really special night. And every night since then has been equal to that night if not better. It's just been awesome."

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