Vinnie Paul

Vinnie Paul
Background information
Birth name	Vincent Paul Abbott
Born	March 11, 1964 (1964-03-11)
Origin	Abilene, Texas, USA
Genres	Heavy metal, groove metal, southern metal
Occupations	Musician, songwriter, producer
Instruments	Drums
Years active	1981–present
Labels	Big Vin
Associated acts	Pantera, Damageplan, Hellyeah, Gasoline
Website	www.bigvinrecords.com

Vincent Paul Abbott, also known as "Vinnie Paul" (born on March 11, 1964 in Abilene, Texas, USA) is a heavy metal drummer and producer who is currently a member of supergroup Hellyeah, but is best known for being a member, and co-founder, of the heavy metal band Pantera. He also co-founded the heavy metal band Damageplan in 2003 with his late younger brother, Dimebag Darrell.

Life and career

Personal life

Vinnie Paul is the son of Carolyn and Jerry Abbott, a country music songwriter and producer. He recorded and performed in the groups Pantera and Damageplan alongside his late brother, guitarist Dimebag Darrell.

In December 2008, he handpicked several of his most memorable drum parts to demonstrate in a promotional video for the drum company: "Use My Third Arm", "Primal Concrete Sledge," "13 Steps to Nowhere", "Domination" and "Becoming".

Pantera

Main article: Pantera

Vinnie Paul formed the heavy metal band Pantera in 1981 with his brother Dimebag Darrell (then known as Diamond Darrell) and Terry Glaze on guitars, bassist Tommy D. Bradford, and vocalist Donnie Hart. Upon Hart's departure, Glaze assumed vocal duties. In the summer of 1982, Bradford left the band and was replaced by Rex Brown and the band released three albums with that lineup.

Pantera recruited vocalist Phil Anselmo to replace Glaze in 1988. By 1990 the band had been signed to Atco Records and released Cowboys from Hell which proved to be the band's turning point. Over the course of four more studio records, a live album and a greatest hits compilation, Anselmo and Pantera were nominated for four best metal performance Grammys, for the songs "I'm Broken", "Suicide Note Pt. I", "Cemetery Gates" and "Revolution Is My Name".

During breaks in Pantera's schedule, the Abbott brothers and Pantera bassist Rex Brown teamed up with country artist David Allan Coe in a project called Rebel Meets Rebel in 1999.

In 2001, Anselmo decided to put Pantera on hold because of back pain while he toured and recorded with his side projects. Pantera's official disbandment took place in 2003 for several reasons, but mainly because of the ongoing dispute between Anselmo and the rest of the band, although Rex Brown remained neutral. In the years to follow bad blood would stir up between Vinnie Paul and Anselmo. To this day, Paul and Anselmo do not talk. Anselmo has announced publicly he wishes Paul to forgive him, and reform a friendship,^{[citation needed]} however Paul maintains that he will never talk to Anselmo again.^{[citation needed]}

Damageplan

Main article: Damageplan

After the breakup of Pantera, the Abbott brothers formed the heavy metal band Damageplan with, then-tattoo artist Bob Zilla on bass, and former Halford guitarist Patrick Lachman on vocals. Damageplan recorded one album, New Found Power, which was released in February 2004. On December 8, 2004, while on tour to support Damageplan's album, Dimebag Darrell was shot dead onstage by former US marine Nathan Gale at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio. Damageplan disbanded shortly thereafter.

Latest projects

Main article: Big Vin Records

After burying Dimebag, Vinnie Paul formed Big Vin Records in February 2006 and released Rebel Meets Rebel and a DVD, Dimevision, Volume 1. Paul writes a monthly question-and-answer column in Revolver. Paul maintains endorsement deals with ddrum, Sabian cymbals, and Vic Firth drumsticks. He previously endorsed Tama, Pearl drums, and Remo drumheads and hardware. Paul has also recently been on tour playing drums for Dethklok, playing a show in Philadelphia with Metalocalypse creator Brendon Small.

Around this time in his career, he was a one time spokesperson for the Arby's fast food restaurant.

After the death of his brother and an 18 month hiatus, Vinnie Paul was unsure if he would return to music, but eventually joined in with the supergroup Hellyeah, which also features vocalist Chad Gray and guitarist Greg Tribbett from Mudvayne, guitarist Tom Maxwell from Nothingface, and bassist Bob Zilla from Damageplan, who was called on to replace original bassist .

Setup

This is Vinnie Paul's current setup for Hellyeah, taken from the Modern Drummer September 2010 issue:

Drums: ddrum Vinnie Paul signature series (All drums in his custom dragon finish modeled after the design on his hat)

• 24x24 bass drum x2
• 14x14 tom
• 15x15 tom
• 18x18 floor tom
• 14x8 signature snare drum

Cymbals: Sabian

• 12" Ice bell
• 14" AAX Metal Hi-Hats
• 18" Hand Hammered Rock Crash
• 20" AA Chinese
• 19" AA Rock Crash
• 19" AA Metal-X Crash
• 22" Hand Hammered Power Bell Ride
• 20" AA Chinese
• 14" AA Rock Hi-Hats
• 20" AA Metal-X Crash

Sticks: Vic Firth American Classic Vinnie Paul signature model

Vinnie Paul also uses Evans drum heads, ddrum hardware, ddrum and Roland electronics, Danmar red wood beaters and kick pads, and Shure microphones.

Influences

Vinnie has said that his biggest drum influences are Peter Criss of KISS and Tommy Aldridge. He has also listed John Bonham, Mikkey Dee, Alex Van Halen, and Neil Peart as influences.

Discography

Pantera

• Metal Magic (1983)
• Projects In The Jungle (1984)
• I Am The Night (1985)
• Power Metal (1988)
• Cowboys from Hell (1990)
• Vulgar Display of Power (1992)
• Far Beyond Driven (1994)
• The Great Southern Trendkill (1996)
• Official Live: 101 Proof (1997)
• Reinventing the Steel (2000)

Damageplan

• New Found Power (2004)

Rebel Meets Rebel

• Rebel Meets Rebel (2006)

Hellyeah

• Hellyeah (2007)
• Stampede (2010)

External links

• Big Vin Records official website
• Official Pantera website
• Official Damageplan website
• Official Rebel Meets Rebel site
• Big Vin Records' Official MySpace page
• Official HELLYEAH Myspace Page
• Official HELLYEAH website