Vinnie Paul has died at the age of 54, it’s been announced.

The news was confirmed on Pantera’s Facebook page, which issued a short statement this morning.

It reads: “Vincent Paul Abbott, aka Vinnie Paul, has passed away.

“Paul is best known for his work as the drummer in the bands Pantera and Hellyeah.

“No further details are available at this time. The family requests you please respect their privacy during this time.”

The drummer was born in Texas in 1964 and went on to form Pantera in 1981 with his brother Dimebag Darrell Abbott and vocalist Terry Glaze. They later brought in bassist Rex Brown and, after recruiting frontman Phil Anselmo, went on to achieve massive success, selling over seven million records in their career.

Their fourth album – and first with Anselmo – Power Metal (1988) saw them switch from their glam metal roots and move towards something heavier and darker. Fifth album Cowboys From Hell defined the 'groove metal' style they became known for. 1994's Far Beyond Driven went no.1 in the US and Australia and no.3 in the UK. 

They became one of the most influential bands in modern metal, inspiring acts from Five Finger Death Punch to Hatebreed, Lamb Of God and even Korn ("The first metal band I ever listened to were Pantera," said Jonathan Davis. "Those grooves were so undeniable”).

The band split in 2003, with Vinnie Paul and Dimebag forming Damageplan and released the studio album New Found Power in 2004.

Tragedy struck later that year when Dimebag was shot and killed onstage during a Damageplan gig in Ohio, on December 8 by gunman Nathan Gale, who also killed three more people and injured seven others that night.

Subsequently, Vinnie Paul joined Hellyeah, with the band’s 2016 album Undeniable featuring a previously unreleased recording by Dimebag on a cover of Phil Collins track I Don’t Care Anymore.

As a young man, Vinnie Paul learned the drums by playing along with his favourite records. 

He told Rhythm magazine last year: “Playing along with badass records is how I developed my groove. John Bonham always had the best groove ever, and he had the best feel. Phil Rudd is another amazing groove drummer – he just laid it down and made it simple.

"I'm a rock drummer. I couldn't sit down and pretend to be a jazz drummer.”

Despite that, he first met Pantera bassist Rex Brown in a jazz band.

”I’d known Vinnie from playing in a jazz band together,” said Brown. “I was the bass player and he played drums and his little brother Dime, when we first met, was just learning how to play barre chords.”

Vinnie put Pantera’s unique ‘groove metal’ sound down to the way that he played with Dimebag, rather than the bass player. 

“I don't ever have any bass in my monitors at all,” he said. “I like to lock in with the guitar. To me, metal music is about the guitar and drums locking in and operating like a machine together.

"I played with my brother forever, and we were magically locked in together."

Vinnie is currently ranked 9th in Ranker’s crowd-voted Best Metal Drummer of All Time list.

Tributes have already started to pour in for the drummer, with Kiss star Paul Stanley saying: “So sad to hear of the death of Vinnie Paul. Loved when Pantera did shows with us and in later years Vinnie was always front and centre at all Kiss shows. RIP and condolences to his family.”

Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine posted a message on Twitter, saying: “I just woke up in Belgium to the news that my friend Vinnie Paul has passed away. Another metal hero taken too soon. Say hello to Daryl for me. Rest In Peace, my dear friend."

 
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