Skip to main content
MusicRadar MusicRadar The No.1 website for musicians
UK EditionUK US EditionUS AU EditionAustralia SG EditionSingapore
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Artist news
  • Guitars
  • Controllers
  • Drums
  • Keyboards & Pianos
  • Guitar Amps
  • Music Gear Reviews
  • Synths
  • Software & Apps
  • More
    • Recording
    • DJ Gear
    • Acoustic Guitars
    • Bass Guitars
    • Tech
    • Tutorials
    • Reviews
    • Buying Guides
    • About us
More
  • "She knew what she'd created": Back to Black
  • Trower's '80s supergroup
  • Music theory tricks
  • Stage Tour game
  • 95k+ free music samples
  1. Artists
  2. Guitarists

Dimebag week: Dimebag's Pantera bandmates and friends choose their favourite Dime moments on record

News
By Stuart Williams
Published 2 December 2014

Phil Anselmo, Kerry King, Jerry Cantrell, Scott Ian and more!

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Dimebag week: Dimebag's Pantera bandmates and friends choose their favourite Dime moments on record

Dimebag week: Dimebag's Pantera bandmates and friends choose their favourite Dime moments on record

It's been 10 years since Dimebag's tragic death, and to mark the anniversary we'll be posting Dimebag related content every day this week.

Here, we quizzed the guys that knew Dime best on their favourite Dimebag riff or solo. On almost every occasion we were met with a similar response: "Dude, that's a hard f*****g question!", however with a little more digging, we were able to compile this list.

The latest issue of Total Guitar is on sale now, paying tribute to Dimebag Darrell and his profound influence on metal guitar.

It features brand new interviews with Dime's Pantera bandmates (Vinnie Paul Abbott, Phil Anselmo, Rex Brown) and his guitar peers (Zakk Wylde, Scott Ian, Kerry King and more). As well as this, we speak to Dimebag's guitar tech, Grady Champion and Dean Guitars' founder Dean Zelinski to get the low-down on Dime's gear, plus the making of the Dean Razorback.Plus! Learn five essential Dimebag riffs, master Dime's lead techniques

Buy a copy of Total Guitar 261: Dimebag here

Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7
Vinnie Paul Abbott, Pantera, Hell Yeah

Vinnie Paul Abbott, Pantera, Hell Yeah

“One that set the standard and one that no one will ever forget is the riff from Cowboys From Hell. That had everything, it had the swagger and the metal side as well, it had that southern vibe to it, it was everything that we ever were.”

Page 2 of 7
Page 2 of 7
Phil Anselmo, Pantera/Down

Phil Anselmo, Pantera/Down

“I'll say right off the bat the solo to The Sleep, that was an incredible solo. I could go through the whole catalogue and pick out a million solos. Really though it is an unfair question, you bastard!”

Page 3 of 7
Page 3 of 7
Rex Brown, Pantera, Kill Devil Hill

Rex Brown, Pantera, Kill Devil Hill

"Far Beyond Driven is when we finally got the bass in the mix [right]. My favourite recording on that session was Planet Caravan. And that was done in 45 minutes. The first lead that he did; literally goosebumps. If you were sitting in that studio…"

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 4 of 7
Page 4 of 7
Kerry King, Slayer

Kerry King, Slayer

“When Becoming came out I hated it. I was so naïve that I assumed that the riff had a sample in it, I didn't realise it was him on a pedal. When I realised it was Dime with his pedal that changed everything for me, that is such a monster riff.”

Page 5 of 7
Page 5 of 7
Scott Ian, Anthrax

Scott Ian, Anthrax

“My favourite thing isn’t even a lead, it’s the voicemail intro on (Anthrax’s) Cadillac Rock Box. The leads are great but that is the really special thing.”

Page 6 of 7
Page 6 of 7
Jerry Cantrell, Alice In Chains

Jerry Cantrell, Alice In Chains

"I always liked the solo from Cemetery Gates, there’s a lot of vibe in there, but riffs? Jesus, I was obviously a fan of Walk, A New Level, the riff from Cowboys From Hell sounds like a f***ing machine! Walk is simple, butI’m a fan of simple. That one in particular really stuck with me."

YouTube YouTube
Watch On
Page 7 of 7
Page 7 of 7
CATEGORIES
Guitars
Stuart Williams
Stuart Williams
Social Links Navigation
Drums

Stuart has been working for guitar publications since 2008, beginning his career as Reviews Editor for Total Guitar before becoming Editor for six years. During this time, he and the team brought the magazine into the modern age with digital editions, a Youtube channel and the Apple chart-bothering Total Guitar Podcast. Stuart has also served as a freelance writer for Guitar World, Guitarist and MusicRadar reviewing hundreds of products spanning everything from acoustic guitars to valve amps, modelers and plugins. When not spouting his opinions on the best new gear, Stuart has been reminded on many occasions that the 'never meet your heroes' rule is entirely wrong, clocking-up interviews with the likes of Eddie Van Halen, Foo Fighters, Green Day and many, many more.

Read more
Dimebag Darrell
Artists Bullet For My Valentine on the tonal perfection of Dimebag Darrell
 
 
Slash
Artists Slash on his enduring devotion to the Gibson Les Paul
 
 
Slipknot
Artists Slipknot and Korn on the perils of life on the road
 
 
Mastodon pictured after performing on Late Night with Seth Meyers in 2021 [L-R]: Brent Hinds, Troy Sanders, Brann Dailor, and Bill Kelliher.
Artists Mastodon's Brann Dailor and Troy Sanders on their complicated relationship with the late Brent Hinds
 
 
Slipknot
Artists Slipknot’s Jim Root on his unlikely guitar inspirations
 
 
Death Cab For Cutie
Artists When Death Cab for Cutie shared their guitar rig with us
 
 
Latest in Guitarists
Brian May
Guitarists “It blew me away so badly”: Brian May says that hearing Jimi Hendrix made him question whether he should be a guitar player
 
 
Jackso Pro Series Phil Collen PC1-E
Artists Phil Collen on why you can play anything on his new Jackson, and even nail those Hysteria tones
 
 
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - SEPTEMBER 22: Ella Langley performs onstage at the 9th Annual Nashville Songwriter Awards at Ryman Auditorium on September 22, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee.  (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
Artists How a Nashville session legend and a pet kangaroo helped Ella Langley to create Choosin' Texas
 
 
Hayley Williams of Paramore (L) and guitarist Chad Gilbert of New Found Glory attend the 2014 Gibson Brands AP Music Awards at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum on July 21, 2014
Guitarists “His influence and attitude guided the genre forward”: Hayley Williams pays tribute to her ex, guitarist Chad Gilbert
 
 
PRS Silver Sky Defender in front of a matching Defender 4x4.
Guitars Who knew classic Land Rover Defender paint jobs would look so good on John Mayer’s Silver Sky?
 
 
Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield of Metallica with Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, inductee, 2006
Guitarists “He is the one that has inspired me the most”: James Hetfield hails Tony Iommi as “the riff lord”
 
 
Latest in News
BROOKLYN, NEW YORK - MAY 05:  Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood pose backstage during the exclusive launch event of The Rolling Stones new album “Foreign Tongues” at Weylin on May 5, 2026 in Brooklyn, NY. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for UMG)
Artists Andrew Watt says he kept thing loose when he produced the Stones, but also added a surprising synth sub-bass
 
 
Brian May
Guitarists “It blew me away so badly”: Brian May says that hearing Jimi Hendrix made him question whether he should be a guitar player
 
 
Prodigy
Samples Want to sound like The Prodigy? Download this free pack of Prodigy-style samples
 
 
(EDITORS NOTE: A special effects camera filter was used for this image.) Olivia Rodrigo at Daisy Chain Fields Festival 2026 held at Great Park on August 29, 2026 in Irvine, California. (Photo by Christopher Polk/Billboard via Getty Images)
Artists Olivia Rodrigo on how being a "novice" guitarist led to a happy accident when she was writing The Cure
 
 
Jackso Pro Series Phil Collen PC1-E
Artists Phil Collen on why you can play anything on his new Jackson, and even nail those Hysteria tones
 
 
Oasis Dont' Look Back in Anger poster crop
Gigs & Festivals “Please remain vigilant”: Oasis warn against scammers in the forthcoming Live 27 ticketing bunfight
 
 

MusicRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...