"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott

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The driving force behind the band Pantera, Abbott had once been ranked no. 7 on Guitar World Magazine's list of the most influential metal guitarists. But when he split with his band, an ex-Marine and Pantera fan named Nathan Gale became unhinged. On Dec. 8, 2004, just after Abbott and his new band, Damageplan, began to play at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Gale jumped on stage and opened fire, shooting Abbott, 38, five times in the head. The 25-year-old loner killed three others in the crowd and took an audience member hostage before a police officer shot and killed him. A witness later told the Washington Post that Gale yelled, "Darrell! You're the reason Pantera broke up. You ruined my life!"