PANTERA / HELLYEAH Drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott Dead At 54

Via Metal Injection

Legendary drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott has died at the age of 54, according to Billboard.

Abbott’s representative confirmed his death to the music magazine, but the cause of death is not known at this time.

He co-founded Texas groove metal pioneers Pantera with his brother, “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, in 1981. After recruiting bassist Rex Brown in 1982 and vocalist Philip Anselmo in 1986, the band adopted a heavier sound and became one of the biggest and most influential metal bands in the world.

The Abbott brothers formed Damageplan in the wake of Pantera’s breakup in 2003, although the band ended abruptly as Dimebag, 38, was shot and killed on stage in 2004.

Vinnie Paul was the current drummer for metal supergroup Hellyeah, which he formed several years after his brother’s death in 2006. According to La Crosse Tribune, the idea to form a supergroup originated in 2000 on the Tattoo the Earth tour, but scheduling conflicts got in the way.

This is truly a sad day in metal, and we will update as soon as we know more.