OFFICIAL BAND STATEMENT:.
Like many of Dime's friends, Paul said that the guitarist will be remembered for his playing but missed most for his giving personality.
"With all his greatness and accomplishments on the guitar, DIME will be missed more for his giving personality, charisma, caring for others, love and most of all his HEART!! Twice as big as the state of TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!!!" the statement read. "DIME gave it all every day to each and every one of us and our lives have forever been hollowed without him...
"Thanks to all of you for reaching out to us in this time of our immeasurable loss. REST IN PEACE BROTHER DIME!!!!!!"
The surviving members of Damageplan also issued a statement revealing that their former head of security, Jeffrey "Mayhem" Thompson, was also killed in the tragedy, and that Chris Paluska, who worked with Damageplan's management and was their acting tour manager, was also shot and is in critical but stable condition. The band's drum tech, John "Kat" Brooks, was hit with a bullet but will be released from the hospital Friday (November 10).
"Jeffrey 'Mayhem' Thompson was not just a true part of the Damageplan family, but part of the whole Dallas music scene," the statement said. "He was friend to all, with a great personality. He bent over backward to help us all with his trademark phrases like 'What can I do for you sir?' and 'Coming up!'"
In the statement, the band thanks Thompson for his extreme loyalty and credits him for helping save the surviving members' lives. "He stated his willingness to protect us, saying 'I'd take a bullet for ya,' and unfortunately did in defense of our lives," they said. "He truly lived and died for his friends and made the ultimate sacrifice, giving his life to save ours. For this we will never forget. You will be missed, big man."
The band's label, Atlantic Records, issued a statement as well, which reads in part, "Dimebag Darrell was an exceptional musician and an extraordinary person. Along with his brother and bandmate, Vinnie Paul, he was a member of the Elektra/Atlantic family for the past 14 years, and he will be deeply missed. The bravery displayed by Damageplan, their crew, their fans, and the local police will never be forgotten."
Let us all share our memories of the legend Dimebag Darrell