Co-founder of the metal band Pantera, Vinnie Paul Abbott, died in his sleep on Friday night. Abbott was an expert drummer, playing in Pantera as well as Damageplan, Hellyeah, and many side projects.

Abbott was a dedicated fan of the Dallas Stars, who in 1999 won the Stanley Cup, a trophy that was nearly destroyed during a wild, multi-day party at his home.




The Stars partied in Abbott’s Dallas-area home for several days following their win. The excess made the team late for the championship parade. Here’s how Mike Modano told it to the Dallas News:

We spent a lot of time at Vinny Paul’s house, he was one of the members of Pantera, for about four days straight. That took a little bit of wind out of our sails for a bit. We showed up about an hour late for our parade so it didn’t go over too well with the city and the police that were waiting for us. We thought what the heck, this could be our one and only chance that we have winning it so we’re going to do everything possible that we can. We’d go home and shower and we’d come back. We had to reload the fridge and the coolers that’s for sure. It was tough getting all the cars and anybody who could drive sober to the city so we had to get about 15 to 20 limos taking everybody down, and we finally got down there.

Abbott and company attended the parade in face paint.

The party at Abbott’s home is the stuff of legend. None of this has ever been confirmed on the record, but Hooked on Hockey magazine tells the story from the perspective of an anonymous party attendee, who – judging by their use of hockey nicknames – is probably from the team:

From Hooked on Hockey:

. . . Guy [Carbonneau], Luds (Craig Ludwig), and Matty (Richard Matvichuk) were upstairs. They were yelling something out of the window that I could not make out.” He went on to explain that Carbonneau tossed the Cup out of the window, but said it looked more like he accidentally dropped the Cup than intentionally threw it. The cup then hit the lip of the swimming pool and fell in. While the keeper of the Cup claims that didn’t happened, the source I spoke to simply said, “Didn’t see him,” and that reactions were a mix of party attendees laughing, indifference, or shock.

Vinnie Paul was more direct: “It really got dented when Guy Carbonneau threw it off my balcony into my pool.”

Abbott was preceded in death by his brother, Darrell “Dimebag” Abbott, who was murdered on stage in 2004.

Vinnie Paul was a technical wizard whose skill was surpassed only by his positive mental attitude. His influence changed metal music for the better. He partied as hard as he played. He will be missed.