For millions of music fans the world over, Pantera guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott wasn’t just a technical wizard and a hilarious party animal, he was one of us, a heavy metal icon who never felt like he wasn’t just some kid who loved music. Now, in a touching Instagram post, Slipknot and Stone Sour guitarist Jim Root reveals that he was gifted a wah pedal by Dimebag — and that he refuses to open it to this day.
“I have tons of pedals,” wrote Jim via the Instagram post featured below. “They all do something useful and creative and all that… and I may post some. But this is the most important pedal I have.
“We were on tour and played Dallas. Dime and Vinnie were there. The whole crew… and they had a crew. Tight bunch of dudes. Dime gave me this @jimdunlopusa cry baby from hell and he had written a note to me on it. To ME? From one of if not the most influential guitarists of all time. His flow and style were and are undeniable. One of those dudes that inspired you to be better. Not just at guitar playing. But being cool… being happy… being present. I was and still am blown away by it. (And [Daryl “Bobby Tongs” Arnberger, longtime videographer for both Pantera and Damageplan] chimed in on the note as well!)
“I didn’t know Dime well. I’d only met him a handful of times. But that he would think to gift me something like this… The note more so than the wah. I mean what can I say. A rare and missed human. He’d probably want me to bust that thing out and beat the shit out of it. I can’t bring myself to.
“So here’s a little something personal from me to you. Thanks man. I wish I could return the favor.”
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We’re not crying, you’re crying.
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Words by Chris Krovatin
