damageplan

Damageplan was an innovative speed metal band from Texas that was formed by drummer Vinnie Paul and guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott, both formerly of 90s metal legends Pantera. They were joined by Pat Lachman (formerly of the Halford band) on vocals and Bob Zilla playing bass. Their first (and only) album, New Found Power, was released in the USA on February 10, 2004. In a sad strange coincidence, on December 8, 2004 (the 24th anniversary of the murder of John Lennon of the Beatles by a deranged fan), crazed fan Nathan Gale,25, jumped on the stage during a Damageplan show at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio (my hometown), as the band began performing its first song. The lunatic Gale shot to death Dimebag Darrell instantly, and then also killed fan Nathan Bray, 23; club employee Erin Halk, 29; and security official Jeff Thompson, 40. Gale was shot dead by Columbus police officer James Niggemeyer, thus preventing more deaths and saving lives. Officer Niggemeyer was commended for stopping a bloodshed and is a genuine bonafide hero.