RIP Dimebag(5th anniversary of his death)

[Plow]

Sigh, can't get shit onto computer, all it is though is some old programs from tours all over the world in different languages and shit, signed and all that, and then some pictures and whatnot.

Picture being in a fairly nice neighborhood (my aunt was a tv reporter at the time, her husband a sports cameraman), looking across the street into the little like 55 year old upper middle class lady across the street's yard...

And there's a few 30ish guys with super long hair, covered in tatoos, in tank tops and torn off jeans and shit with cowboy hats fucking around and shit lol.

And then finding out they're her rich ass nephew and his band, lol.

That's my point though - I'm not a big Pantera fan, but people say that Dimebag was top notch, so I didn't understand why the tracks weren't proper studio performances.

Spoiler: show

might as well listen to KMFDM amirite?

If you can find me a good metal band that plays half this well live, I'll prob end up like following them on tour or some shit lol.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5vNZ1YYBWU


lengthier response:

Spoiler: show

2 major things about this:

First off, especially when it comes to solos, almost nobody's live shows are "proper studio performances." I don't think you're understanding the intricacy that goes into it, especially with the harmonics he uses. There's just not really a physically possible way to duplicate the layering he uses on some parts in one sitting by 1 person.

I've seen him come close-- fretting with not just his left hand but the top finger or 2 on his right hand while strumming with his thumb and ring/pinky fingers, but, well, that shit's just ridiculous. Was for the solo on hard lines, sunken cheeks iirc. Youtube really sucks for finding good pantera clips ; ;

Anyway, point being it's just the raw physical limits of what he's performing, and not just with him. 1 guitar, minimal allowance for effects changes, etc. Even listening to Jimmy Page at his very best live, you'll notice the same things where he just can't quite fill it in as perfectly as sitting in a studio.


Secondly, what makes dimebag so, sooo amazing wasn't really his soloing, anyway. It was kind of like John Bonham with drums-- sure, he'll always be known for some crazy solos and whatnot. But when it comes down to it, 30 years from now, it's Dimebag's riffs, just like it's Bonham's rhythm, that will really be remembered.


And on that aspect, the dude is fucking amazing, and his live performances are like studio quality... and it's rather ridiculous. Extremely few people can play such a defined quality live, let alone have that talent and the creativity to have given a style basis for like nearly every metal band since. Vinnie is absurd in his ability to basically put down a studio performance live as well.


Here's a very simple example of why Pantera held up as long as they did, and some reasoning as to why:

First off, the riff is fairly simple. The solo is also made slightly less intense than the album version, as pretty much every guitarist ever except Jimi has done, for the sake of keeping the sound quality reasonable without proper production and in 1 take on the fly.

However, this allows him to just keep it absolutely perfect. Take out the background noise, Phil's random additions, and put in a little production for sound quality, and this might as well be a studio recording by any above average metal band.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=87uEuhMj92k


Here's another one (song starts like a minute in):

Any self-respecting metal fan will instantly recognize this riff instantly, and it'll probably be that way for another 50 years. Sure, other people might be able to play it, just fine. But when it comes to Dimebag's part (and even the solo in this recording), and hell, Vinnie's for that matter, you'll never see them done better... let alone live, in one sitting.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh51rtXOAAo

To answer your most basic question: yes, pantera looped the guitar in the studio.

This is how bands with one guitarist have songs with solos without dropping out the bulk of the music during it. It's also just really common in general with that kind of riffing, just to keep it perfectly clean. Point being, however, he could do it pretty much just as perfect regardless, heh.




Also, I hate when people bash phil ><

Remember when trendkill came out, and everybody was like "zomg phil's doing too much heroin this album is crazy and bad!"

And now how looking back it's one of the best overall performances they put out?

Not to mention how it and Far Beyond Driven essentially define post-black album metal in the 90's, while crossing a pretty big range...

[archibaldcrane]

I'm never been much of a metalhead really, for example I'd much prefer to listen to Megadeth than Pantera from that era, whatever that says about me.

My older brother (who hugely influenced my musical tastes, shared a room through middle school, etc.) however, was -huge- into metal, along with all of his friends. Pantera was never...really on their radar, despite being of the perfect age (they're 31-32 now) to grow up with it.

I know metalheads love to categorize their metal ad infinitum, so maybe Pantera didn't play a style they liked, but they seem to pretty much run right down the middle.

I dunno.

[OzzofAsura]

R.I.P. Dimebag. Wish I got to see them at least once.

[Guitarman]

Secondly, what makes dimebag so, sooo amazing wasn't really his soloing, anyway. It was kind of like John Bonham with drums-- sure, he'll always be known for some crazy solos and whatnot. But when it comes down to it, 30 years from now, it's Dimebag's riffs, just like it's Bonham's rhythm, that will really be remembered.

something i want to add; another thing that made dime so amazing was his attitude. There are countless reports of him sitting outside after a show signing autographs until EVERYONE that wanted one got one. He gave away pedals, amps, guitars, picks etc to down on their luck guitarists all the time. He was humble to a fault. I know there are others who come close to doing the same, but not the extent he did. He truly loved his fans. Being as famous and well respected as he was and still doing all that is something to be admired, whether you liked his music or not.

[Nyx]

something i want to add; another thing that made dime so amazing was his attitude. There are countless reports of him sitting outside after a show signing autographs until EVERYONE that wanted one got one. He gave away pedals, amps, guitars, picks etc to down on their luck guitarists all the time. He was humble to a fault. I know there are others who come close to doing the same, but not the extent he did. He truly loved his fans. Being as famous and well respected as he was and still doing all that is something to be admired, whether you liked his music or not.

This couldn't be more true. Out of the five or six times that I hung out with the guy (not before/after shows), I never saw him get upset or turn away a fan that would approach him asking for an autograph. He always seemed gracious, and he acted genuinely happy to meet every single fan. That always impressed me immensely.

[Howard Roark]

read the title, immediately thought about pot.

why?

[Howard Roark]

Yeah, I'd argue that Hip Hop is the least like the studio tracks when performed live.

Untalented rock-format bands could give them a run for their money, but most rappers can't even get through a verse without their hype-man saying the last 3 words of every line. Shit's obnoxious.

the whisper song is not even whispered..... so goddamn stupid

I'm never been much of a metalhead really, for example I'd much prefer to listen to Megadeth than Pantera from that era, whatever that says about me.

5 years and their cover of Caravan >>>>>> 99 ways to die (which is still a great song)

[Abandon]

I remember when he died, dallas fucking went nuts, people were fighting for no reason. Crazy shit, "Walk" is still one of my favorites.

[melbufrauma]

i went to his memorial in Ft worth, shit was sad.

[Cesaria]

Gawd I was at that Donnington gig - good times.