VINNIE PAUL Talks About Supernatural Experiences With DIMEBAG

Christine Carney of MP3.com recently conducted an interview with former PANTERA/DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott. A few excerpts from the chat follow:

MP3.com: I also saw that the REBEL MEETS REBEL album is doing really great, too — that I think you did around 40,000 the first week?

Vinnie Paul: "Yeah, yeah, we're doing really good. It's one of those things that's going to continue to grow. It's kind of a word-of-mouth record, almost a cult record, you know. It's not something that we're going to get any love out of MTV for or a whole lot of radio support. So, just as the fans keep finding out about it, they keep telling their friends. And all the response that I've read from it, I've been really surprised and happy that people really got it. When we first started talking about it, a lot of people were like, 'Ahh, is this going to be some lame country record that these guys from PANTERA try to play?' You know, they didn't know that it was going to be balls out, basically what we always have done, with a country singer, you know."

MP3.com: I know that you've said you feel Dime's energy, and you know that he's approving. But I'm just kind of curious if you've ever had any kind of supernatural experience with Dime? Kind of him letting you know that he's right there behind you?

Vinnie Paul: "Well, it happens every day, you know. His number was three, you know. And everyday, 3:33 will appear on the clock, and I don't even mean to look at it, and it just reminds me of him everyday. It doesn't matter if it's at night or during the day. I'll be doing something. I'll be right in the middle of something, busy, busy, busy, and I'll look over, and by gosh it's 3:33. Or will go to turn on the street, and that's the address, 333, or something, you know. That's the closest I can say to any kind of supernatural thing. And, you know, just every time, I'm just like, 'That's him reminding us he's still around.'"

MP3.com: I just want to ask you a little bit about Big Vin Records, too. What are your plans for that?

Vinnie Paul: "Well so far it's going pretty good. I'm definitely looking to sign some other acts to the label. We've gotten over 5,000 demo tapes through the door, and so far I haven't heard anything that has the kind of magic I'm looking for, so keep sending them. You can go to www.bigvinrecords.com and there's an address there where to send the stuff to. And I'm just looking for something different, something out there, something that sounds different, looks different, has a different philosophy, and something that might start a new wave of music. So, that's what I'm looking for."

MP3.com: So it doesn't have to be anything like PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN, DAVID ALLAN COE?

Vinnie Paul: "No. I'm a very, very diverse listener. I like all kinds of music. And if it's good, you know, like David Allan says, there's two kinds of music. There's good music, and there's bad music. If it's good, I'll definitely know it."

MP3.com: What about for you personally and musically? Are you going to focus on being a record mogul now? I know that there's some question about whether REBEL MEETS REBEL might actually tour? What's next for you?

Vinnie Paul: "I definitely miss playing the drums, miss being on stage. I still have a huge passion for it, and I know I'll do it again in the future. I've been lucky enough to be able to play with a lot of my favorite bands over the past year and a half or so. I've played with ANTHRAX, DISTURBED, Zakk Wylde and the BLACK LABEL SOCIETY. I went down to spend a week with Sammy Hagar down in Cabo, and I jammed with him and Michael [Anthony] every night for a week. As a matter of fact, they just came through Texas here Sunday night, and I got up and jammed with them there. And it was awesome. So I know I still want to do it, and I know it will happen. It just needs to take some time to get all this other stuff taken care of and in place. And then when the right situation comes along, I definitely will be back playing. You'll see me soon."

Read the entire interview at link text
MP3.com. The audio of the interview is available for streaming at this location.