December 8th – I’ve been made increasingly
suspicious over the years of rock performers who change their given name to a
stage one. I don’t mean actors who select an EQUITY name; that’s been going on
for years and anyway they’re actors. I was told by an old stagehand once that
the difference between an actor and a stage technician is that an actor without
a stage tech is just a naked person standing in the dark trying to emote;
whereas a stage tech without actors is a person with marketable skills. Now
that may be seen as me being unkind but…well…who cares? And neither am I
talking about rock performers who use a non de plume that can be loosely
classed as normal; Elton John let’s say or Cliff Richard. No, I’m talking about
rock/pop performers who pick a stupid name…and then don’t have either the
intelligence or the nous to realise it’s about as uncool as a really uncool
thing. They are legion; Johnny Rotten, Sid Vicious, Gary Glitter (can I use
that one these days…not entirely sure given the name’s modern connotation and
the man’s recent exploration into the art of playground games) Lady Gaga or
Englebert Humperdink for chrissakes…oh, hang on, that’s a real name…
This idea of the band’s name being an extension of the band’s
belief and ethic has been around for a while…would put a bit of a block on anyone
belonging to band called The Sewer Rats
I’d reckon…and when it comes to the lost legion of sensible names, imho, Pantera have a lot to answer for.
Starting out as a glam rock band they didn’t really need foolish,
made up names in order to sell stuff; their costumes were foolish enough. But
they still had to have one
didn’t they? Step forward Dimebag Darrell Abbott. I figure it was in order to
gain some street with their followers (certainly that which would be lacking
once one had seen them in block heels and make-up) that they referenced the
selling of illegal substances to give the band some credibility; great; just
what young people want as a role model. At least, I think it was to do with the
buying and selling of illegal substances; I mean it could have been a misprint
for Dirtbag…no, that’s silly, move on.
It was when they roughed up their glam image by shortening
their original band name, Pantera’s Metal
Magic’ (is that a real gay name or what) to just Pantera; so much more punch in that one word hinting as it does at
black panthers (iconic, wrongly branded as dangerous, feline about the size of
a leopard) and the Black Panther Movement
(right-on, clenched-gloved fist, 1968 Olympic games political demonstration) as it does (or is
that just my overactive imagination?) Once they’d gotten the band name they set
about roughing up the music and by that end were at the forefront of the
heavier than lead metal music which has blossomed into today’s thrash-metal/screamer bands. Not content
with this, then came the alternatives performer names; Rexx Rocker, Eldn, Matt
L’Amour (although that could have been his real name in which case I suggest he
should have been the one to have the legitimacy to change it) and giving their
album releases dark and suggestive titles such as Great Southern Trendkill, Cowboys
from Hell, and Vulgar Display of
Power.
For all my flippancy the Pantera
fanbase was loyal almost to a fault, their involvement with the band’s
message verging on messianic, and their interaction in the band’s day-to-day
affairs bordering on the intrusive. As with many such acts in this brand of
music drugs began to play an increasing role in the success and eventual
failure of the lineup’s health and temper. When heroin became the painkiller of
choice for the vocalist, Phil Anselmo, it wasn’t long before reliability and
equanimity began to break down. Acrimony was well seasoned between the members
for several years before coming to a head. A split from the band by Mr. Anselmo
in order for him to indulge in his side-projects eventually resulted in the two
brothers, the aforesaid Mr. Dimebag and Vinnie Paul, breaking up the band in
2003 and forming Damageplan.
Four years later and we switch to Columbus, Ohio (what is it
about Columbus) where, on this day in 2004, Nathan Gale got up on stage during
a Damageplan gig and shot Mr. Dimebag,
Nathan Bray (a band fan) Erin Halk (a club employee) Jeff Mayhem Thompson (Pantera
security guard…(you know you’re in the realms of fantasy when even the security
guards have social-listing name changes) and badly injured John Brooks (drum
tech) and Chris Paluska (Pantera tour
manager) before being shot to death by a Columbus police officer… The reason
offered? Well, apart from being schizophrenic, Mr. Gale;
…was angered
over Pantera’s breakup, and friends suggested he claimed that he had written
songs that were stolen by Pantera.
Even outside of these events and after Dimebag’s death the threats
of violence between band members and their respective spouses ran on. There was
talk of someone or other blowing someone or others head’s off leading up to the
funeral of Mr. Dimebag. There have been several later discussions about the
band getting back together (the lure of the pension tour should never be
underestimated) and it was even talked about that they had patched up their
differences (?) but that’s all it has been; talk.
I have to say, even given my level of scepticism about the Pantera’s credentials, I would have
liked to have seen them live. By all accounts they were a knock-out in live
performance putting the meaning into that overworked phrase;
Giving 110%
Pity Mr. Gale thought the opposite and went out on a mission of
putting the meaning into deathmetal.
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