VINNIE PAUL's Estate To Auction His Collection Of Personal And Private Mementos

Backstage Auctions has announced the Vinnie Paul Estate Auction, featuring nearly 700 lots of impressive collectibles, mementos, and personal items from the late PANTERA, HELLYEAH and DAMAGEPLAN drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott.

Paul is one of the most recognized drummers in heavy metal. Through his work with PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN and HELLYEAH, he has influenced many of his peers and encouraged legions of young and aspiring drummers to pick up a pair of sticks. PANTERA, the band he started with his equally legendary brother "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, is regarded as one of the most successful and influential bands in metal history, having sold around 20 million records worldwide and having received four Grammy nominations. Known as the inventors of groove metal, Vinnie and Dimebag also knew how to have a good time, making them often the light and center of the party.

This historical auction is the ultimate Vinnie Paul celebration. Among the many highlights are several drum kits from his PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN and HELLYEAH tours, including the kit he played last, a collection of guitars, including a vintage Dimebag Darrell Washburn, custom slot machines, every imaginable record award, clothing, artwork, autographed items, home furnishings, photos, posters, and just about every laminated pass ever issued to Vinnie Paul. Additionally, Vinnie was a huge hockey, football and baseball fan, leaving behind a massive collection of sports memorabilia with a heavy emphasis on his hometown heroes: Dallas Stars, Dallas Cowboys and Texas Rangers. Highlight pieces include an array of autographed sports collectibles, seats from the original Dallas Cowboys stadium, hockey sticks, helmets, and a massive amount of jerseys.

Outside his impressive career, one that lasted nearly four decades, Vinnie Paul was a collector at heart, enjoying and appreciating every single memento. This event is a tribute to his legacy, as much as it is an opportunity for all of his fans to continue that legacy.

"The collection is a true testament to Vinnie's legacy and shows his passion for music, sports and living life to the fullest" Backstage Auctions founder Jacques Van Gool commented. "It is the ultimate Vinnie Paul celebration."

"Vinnie Paul is one of the most prolific and quintessential drummers in metal history. PANTERA was — and still is — a torch-bearing giant with an unparalleled footprint in the broad universe of everything hard and heavy, opening the doors for generations of headbanging, axe-wielding and skin-pounding musicians," Van Gool added. "They have been rightfully credited as the inventors of groove metal, with Vinnie Paul as the master bricklayer. His drumming, and overall contribution to the genre, has left a lasting mark and we are proud and extremely honored to have been selected by the Vinnie Paul estate to offer his massive collection of memorabilia to his dedicated worldwide legion of fans."

The auction bidding will launch on May 26 and will close on June 5.

For more information, visit BacktageAuctions.com.

Vinnie passed away on June 22, 2018 at his home in Las Vegas at the age of 54. He died of dilated cardiomyopathy, an enlarged heart, as well as severe coronary artery disease. His death was the result of chronic weakening of the heart muscle — basically meaning his heart couldn't pump blood as well as a healthy heart.

Vinnie Paul and his brother co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

A public memorial for Vinnie Paul was held on July 1, 2018 at Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas.

Up until his death, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo, whom the drummer indirectly blamed for the murder of Dimebag.

Not long before his death, Vinnie laid down the drum tracks for HELLYEAH's sixth album, "Welcome Home", which was released in September 2019.