We are sure by now many of you will have heard the sad news that Dimebag Darrell, amongst unconfirmed others, was shot and killed last night while onstage with Damageplan in Ohio. Although not a Roadrunner artist, Pantera and later Damageplan toured with many of our bands. Many of them became friends, as well as touring buddies. All here at Roadrunner are saddened by Dimebag Darrell’s untimely death. There’s probably not a metal fan out there who hasn’t rocked out to one of his songs at some point in time. Our thoughts go out to Vinnie, the rest of Damageplan, his family and friends, and all the fans at the show and those hearing the news now. Comments from our guys are coming in, as everyone tries to come to terms with the shocking events of last night, and we’ll share them with you as they do. Corey Taylor, Slipknot “I lost a really good friend on my 31st birthday. Dimebag was the kind of guy you could hang out with for 2 seconds and feel like you knew him your whole life. He made you laugh, made you drink, but most of all made you feel special. I’m really really going to miss him, but the one thing we will always have is his music.” Mark Hunter, Chimaira “I don’t know a single person who didn’t love the music Dime created. I am so thankful for the all of the music he gave us and I am truly upset about this. I immediately broke into tears when I heard the confirmation. Dime’s music gave me so much to live for when I was younger and he truly changed the face of metal with his unique style of guitar playing. There isn’t a metal band I know that hasn’t borrowed a riff or three from him. My heart goes out to the Abbot family, their friends and all of the fans who had to witness this tragedy in Columbus.” Howard Jones, Killswitch Engage “This is insane and this is beyond travesty. This is beyond anything I’ve ever heard. This shouldn’t happen in or outside of the rock and metal community. He will be missed and mourned as a person, as a musician, and as a friend.” Matt Heafy, Trivium “Dimebag was one of the most influential musicians in our time. Dime was a legend who really made the world seem that much better. He was a man who helped inspire countless numbers of players, fans, and people in general, including me. It’s a terrifying feeling that now at concerts, at the place that we seek our release from the everyday world we want to escape from, our heroes are being murdered. My heart goes out to the Abbott family: Dimebag Darrell Abbott was a man of legendary and heroic status, but before all that, Darrell was and always will be a brother and a son we all mourn today.”