Not a moment taken for granted - I remember Dime

I have met plenty of rock stars. I know a lot of musicians. There’s nothing like going to a show of one of your favorite bands, going out to the back of the venue after the show, and finally getting to meet the band who you love, right?

Sometimes it doesn’t go as well as you planned it. Sometimes that band may not be as interested in meeting you as you are in meeting them. Most of us have been through, this I’m sure of.

A lot of bands these days act differently towards their fans once they start getting a little fame and money in their pocket. I’m sure most of us have stories of how we meet a band, and are totally disappointed by their hostility or arrogance when we meet them. I once met Glen Benton of Deicide. I asked him simple questions about previous tours he had, future albums that he will make, and requested an autograph. All I got was an attitude and condescending remarks.

Let’s face it. Some rock stars take their fame for granted. They sell millions of records, make a ton of money, tour the world, get pampered wherever they go, and get constantly reminded by their fans that they are the best thing that ever happened to music. I’m certainly not saying that’s a bad life, I certainly would take that life in a second if it was offered to me. But how long would it take for that fame to get to my head and make me forget that I’m just a human being?

But let’s not allow a few bad apples spoil the whole bunch. In all fairness, I certainly have met some awesome rock stars and who were all around fantastic human beings. And Dimebag was the best of the best.

It’s December 8th, 2008; four years since that tragic, senseless night in Columbus. I still find myself feeling the same way I did when I first found out of Dime’s passing. It’s not an angry feeling more than it’s a extremely disappointing feeling. Like I lost an important influence in my life, and I only met him one time, but I guess that’s the effect he had on people.

When I watch footage of dime living it up on the “Vulgar Videos” and “Dime Vision”, There’s one thing that is most evident about Dime, and that’s the fact that he lived every moment of his life in the most positive way. It may sound cliché, but it’s true. Dime lived his life in the same way that any fun-loving person would have if they had the opportunity. A lot of the time, people lose touch with who they are when they get a little famous and try to put a front on who they really are. Dime was above that and wasn’t afraid to show the world who he was. He was a down-to-earth rock-star millionaire who wasn’t afraid to go out in public and sign a few autographs, pull a few pranks, and trash his neighbor’s car, knowing that he would happily pay for it.

Dime was the kind of guy who would go out of his way to make sure that everyone around him was having the time of his or her life. Where most rock-stars would have laughed and ignored their fans, Dime said “Let’s party” and took them backstage and treated them as if they were his best friend.
Thinking of the whole situation brings a lot of feelings up. And if you’re in the same boat as I am, do what I do: sit back, pour yourself a black-tooth, turn on "Floods" (or the song of your choice) and don’t take a second of this for granted. I know Dime didn’t.


-- Andrew