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Black Tooth Grin: The High Life, Good Times, and Tragic End of "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott
Black Tooth Grin is the first biography of “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, the Texas-bred guitarist of the heavy metal band Pantera, who was murdered onstage in 2004 by a deranged fan—24 years to the day after John Lennon met a similar fate.Darrell Abbott began as a Kiss-inspired teenage prodigy who won dozens of local talent contests. With his brother, drummer Vinnie Abbott, he formed Pantera, becoming one of the most popular bands of the ’90s and selling millions of albums to an intensely devoted fan base. While the band’s music was aggressive, “Dime” was outgoing, gregarious, and adored by everyone who knew him.
From Pantera’s heyday to their implosion following singer Phil Anselmo’s heroin addiction to Darrell’s tragic end, Black Tooth Grin is a moving portrait of a great artist.
From Pantera’s heyday to their implosion following singer Phil Anselmo’s heroin addiction to Darrell’s tragic end, Black Tooth Grin is a moving portrait of a great artist.
- GenresMusicBiographyNonfiction
336 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2008
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526 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
July 9, 2018
I have to admit that morbid curiosity was the reason I picked this one up from the library. Somewhere along the way I had heard something about a guitar virtuoso being gunned down while performing and had to know more about it. I have no interest in the heavy metal music scene, and I admit that prior to this my only involvement with this type of audible entertainment consisted of shouting downstairs for my son to "turn that @#$%^&* racket off!"
Zac Crain competently covers Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott's early years right up to the time he was murdered onstage. He details the formation of the group Pantera and explains how this group disbanded, essentially a rags to riches to rags story. The reader should be prepared to be exposed to all manner of profanity, because apparently musicians are speechless without it. One should also be prepared to be exposed to some pretty gross personal habits, like Abbott's "loogie wall" and his urinating in the ice machine at the bar. I was kind of surprised that he hadn't been gunned down sooner.
I think the true merit of this biography/hagiography is the fact that Crain could take someone like myself, with my total disdain for this particular music scene, and hold my interest right through the final chapter. Hell, he even had me listening to some of the tunes mentioned in the book just to see what he was going on about. He didn't convert me, but I didn't hate all of them either.
Zac Crain competently covers Darrell "Dimebag" Abbott's early years right up to the time he was murdered onstage. He details the formation of the group Pantera and explains how this group disbanded, essentially a rags to riches to rags story. The reader should be prepared to be exposed to all manner of profanity, because apparently musicians are speechless without it. One should also be prepared to be exposed to some pretty gross personal habits, like Abbott's "loogie wall" and his urinating in the ice machine at the bar. I was kind of surprised that he hadn't been gunned down sooner.
I think the true merit of this biography/hagiography is the fact that Crain could take someone like myself, with my total disdain for this particular music scene, and hold my interest right through the final chapter. Hell, he even had me listening to some of the tunes mentioned in the book just to see what he was going on about. He didn't convert me, but I didn't hate all of them either.
November 5, 2013
One of the better rock and roll bio's I have read. I enjoyed this one because I have always been a fan of Dimebag. It brought back a lot of memories. I haven't read the one by Rex Brown, but it's on my list to read. Curious to see the difference.
This was very informative and filled with a lot of insights into the Abbott's family life and the crazy, intense party that Darrell brought with him wherever he went. Good stuff. Such a pity how it all ended.
This was very informative and filled with a lot of insights into the Abbott's family life and the crazy, intense party that Darrell brought with him wherever he went. Good stuff. Such a pity how it all ended.
June 18, 2011
I was really looking forward to reading this as Darrell was my largest guitar inspiration growing up. I mean seeing my buddy playing a "DimeSlime" green Washburn Dimebag Darrell signature model is what made me want to play guitar in the first place!
What I always loved about the articles and interviews I read about him was that not only was he one of the best guitarists in the last 30 years, but he had a big heart. The man loved to party, loved the guitar, and loved his fans. I really enjoyed how Crain pulled his information from a lot of other sources of information that have not been tapped such as Larry English from Washburn Guitars and some of Darrell's childhood friends. It gave many more details about his rise from local guitar hero to guitar god to fallen star rebuilding his life. It was also refreshing to see a publication that did not dwell immensely on the bitter ending relationship between Phil Anselmo and Dime.
My only disappointment with this book is way Crain ended it with a chapter entitled "Bonus Track". It basically takes the incredible story and ends it by saying that Darrell was a highly functioning alcoholic. I think that point was pretty clearly made throughout, but having a chapter on it kind of tarnished the rest of the story.
With that said, this book is highly recommended for anyone who is a fan of the late, great guitarist. It's well written and very entertaining.
What I always loved about the articles and interviews I read about him was that not only was he one of the best guitarists in the last 30 years, but he had a big heart. The man loved to party, loved the guitar, and loved his fans. I really enjoyed how Crain pulled his information from a lot of other sources of information that have not been tapped such as Larry English from Washburn Guitars and some of Darrell's childhood friends. It gave many more details about his rise from local guitar hero to guitar god to fallen star rebuilding his life. It was also refreshing to see a publication that did not dwell immensely on the bitter ending relationship between Phil Anselmo and Dime.
My only disappointment with this book is way Crain ended it with a chapter entitled "Bonus Track". It basically takes the incredible story and ends it by saying that Darrell was a highly functioning alcoholic. I think that point was pretty clearly made throughout, but having a chapter on it kind of tarnished the rest of the story.
With that said, this book is highly recommended for anyone who is a fan of the late, great guitarist. It's well written and very entertaining.
January 17, 2020
Read because Dimebag
And disappointed because badly put together
Such disappointment I feel, only a Black Tooth Grin can get me through
What waste of paper this book does hold
As story after story
has already been told
*a very superficial look into a person's life who ruled the art of guitar*
And disappointed because badly put together
Such disappointment I feel, only a Black Tooth Grin can get me through
What waste of paper this book does hold
As story after story
has already been told
*a very superficial look into a person's life who ruled the art of guitar*
June 22, 2022
One of the best books on Guitar hero Dimebag Darrell. I'm a diehard Pantera fan and have read every story I can about them and this one had some amazing insight from close friends and musicians.
December 1, 2023
Do you like reading about your favourite musicians? That's pretty much what happened to me when I read this book
Would recommend
Would recommend
December 9, 2010
The book was cool about how he was just some normal kid in Texas then some guitar whiz to then famous member in Pnatera then to being gunned down on stage. It wasn't cool of him being killed but he is a great musican. I actually made a video yesterday TO THE 6th anniversery of his death which I shall post on facebook. Also I havent fully read the book so hopefully I will buy it then make that my reading book. Getcha pull.
Read
August 29, 2014I gave this book a 3 star rating.
If your really in to Pantera,read this book. its good for what it is. It skips around alot. I t seems that ive heard most of these stories in interviews over the years. I am a Pantera / Dime fan. I also read Rex Brown's book 101 proof, That's a really good read, to hear about the interworkings, the highs and lows the undoing of one of the greatest heavy metal bands in the world. This is Rexs story, but Rex was in the band.
If your really in to Pantera,read this book. its good for what it is. It skips around alot. I t seems that ive heard most of these stories in interviews over the years. I am a Pantera / Dime fan. I also read Rex Brown's book 101 proof, That's a really good read, to hear about the interworkings, the highs and lows the undoing of one of the greatest heavy metal bands in the world. This is Rexs story, but Rex was in the band.
October 30, 2011
Made me sad all over again reading this, and I've been cranking the Pantera for days. Quite informative and well-written, while it wasnt warts-and-all, it did seem to capture some of the essence that came across in interviews and the videos. Well worth the read.
July 17, 2009
Very shallow book about a pretty much shallow drunken git. Would have liked to learn more about dimebag, but may not be much there to begin with,
November 3, 2013
This was a really good bio about Dimebag. I'm given it four stars because I couldn't put it down. Fans should definitely read this. Much better than Rex's book.
December 8, 2022
Nos cuenta Crain, de manera mítica, el advenimiento del que fuera uno de los más importantes e influyentes guitarristas de las últimas décadas. Al Darrell Lance Abbott adolescente le regalaron una guitarra, una imitación de una Les Paul, ya que su ídolo era Ace Frehley, y el jovencito aprendió -como no- el riff de "Smoke on the water", aunque la mayor parte del tiempo que pasaba con la guitarra era para ensayar poses delante del espejo. Un día, su hermano Vinnie le dijo "podrías aprender a tocar en lugar de tanta posturita". Dicho y hecho, o casi. Darrell se encerró en su habitación durante seis meses -Crain recoge tambien los testimonios que afirman que fueron en realidad seis semanas- y salió de allí convertido en el guitarrista que ganaba todos los concursos locales en la zona de Fort Worth (así consiguió una de sus famosas Dean ML), que tocaba las canciones de Randy Rhoads o Eddie Van Halen, el guitarra que, guste o no, marcó el camino del instrumento durante los noventa y un poco más allá. Pero si vamos al principio del libro, el autor nos cuenta, minuto a minuto, el último episodio biográfico del melenudo de la perilla roja: Su asesinato el ocho de diciembre de 2004 en el Alrosa Villa de Columbus, Ohio. Un zumbado con una pistola fue a por él y en la primera canción del concierto le pegó tres tiros y lo mató. Aparte de Darrell se llevó por delante a otras tres personas hasta que un policía local lo abatió de un disparo.
Entremedias está el relato épico del Rock and Roll. Las fiestas, las giras, las cogorzas y las resacas, los clubs de strip-tease y finalmente el éxito y el reconocimiento. Pero también, y es lo que más me interesa, está la obsesión por el trabajo que la música como profesión requiere: la práctica constante que conlleva el dominio de un instrumento, el tocar y tocar allí donde se pueda, el aprender de todo aquel que pueda dar un consejo, no defraudar nunca al público, no fallar ni una nota una vez subido al escenario. El interés por el grupo que va despuntando entre el público, las discográficas y las promotoras. Destaca también la importancia del apoyo familiar, especialmente la disciplina inculcada por el padre, Jerry Abbott, músico de la escena country estatal que enseñó a los hermanos Vinnie y Darrell que la música tiene más de "pico y pala" que de inspiración de las musas. En fin, un gran retrato al que, por ponerle un pero, quizá le falte algo de "chicha teórica" guitarrística, pero eso, seguro que da para otra historia.
Conseguí este libro por una especie de academia on-line a la que me suscribí y te enviaban el PDF. Una cosa un poco estrambótica, pero que funcionó. Me ha hecho recuperar a uno de mis amores de juventud: Pantera, en particular a su mítico guitarra, y su muerte tan repentina y trágica. Anda que no he pensado pocas veces en pillar una Dean (o una Washburn) como la que sacaba en las fotos de las revistas, quizá algún día... nunca se sabe.
Leído en el e-book.
Entremedias está el relato épico del Rock and Roll. Las fiestas, las giras, las cogorzas y las resacas, los clubs de strip-tease y finalmente el éxito y el reconocimiento. Pero también, y es lo que más me interesa, está la obsesión por el trabajo que la música como profesión requiere: la práctica constante que conlleva el dominio de un instrumento, el tocar y tocar allí donde se pueda, el aprender de todo aquel que pueda dar un consejo, no defraudar nunca al público, no fallar ni una nota una vez subido al escenario. El interés por el grupo que va despuntando entre el público, las discográficas y las promotoras. Destaca también la importancia del apoyo familiar, especialmente la disciplina inculcada por el padre, Jerry Abbott, músico de la escena country estatal que enseñó a los hermanos Vinnie y Darrell que la música tiene más de "pico y pala" que de inspiración de las musas. En fin, un gran retrato al que, por ponerle un pero, quizá le falte algo de "chicha teórica" guitarrística, pero eso, seguro que da para otra historia.
Conseguí este libro por una especie de academia on-line a la que me suscribí y te enviaban el PDF. Una cosa un poco estrambótica, pero que funcionó. Me ha hecho recuperar a uno de mis amores de juventud: Pantera, en particular a su mítico guitarra, y su muerte tan repentina y trágica. Anda que no he pensado pocas veces en pillar una Dean (o una Washburn) como la que sacaba en las fotos de las revistas, quizá algún día... nunca se sabe.
Leído en el e-book.
March 23, 2022
L'8 dicembre 2004,durante un'esibizione del tour promozionale del nuovo album nel locale Alrosa Villa di Columbus, Darrell Abbott "Dimebag" fu ucciso a colpi di pistola sul palco da un ex militare, Nathan Gale: il chitarrista fu colpito cinque volte, due delle quali a bruciapelo alla testa. Insieme a lui furono uccise altre tre persone: Nathan Bray, che stava assistendo al concerto, Erin Halk, un impiegato del locale, e Jeff "Mayhem" Thompson, addetto alla sicurezza dei Damageplan. Il tecnico John "Kat" Brooks e il manager del tour Chris Paluska rimasero feriti nella sparatoria conclusasi con la morte anche dell'assassino, colpito da un poliziotto intervenuto sul posto. Questa biografia (anche se non scritta benissimo o forse tradotta non troppo bene) racconta la vita di Darrell da quando imbracciò la sua prima chitarra elettrica fino al giorno in cui perse la vita in quel tragico modo, proprio mentre suonava la chitarra. Sepolto in una bara dei KISS e con la chitarra di Eddie van Halen resterà sempre nel cuore e nella mente di chi vuole conservare il ricordo di uno dei più grandi chitarristi di sempre!!
October 16, 2017
Excellent insight into Pantera's rise and fall. A little repetitive with the interminable quotes of praise for his playing, but hey the guy was a legend, lots of people said so. Wraps up rather quickly and doesn't focus much on the murder or the aftermath. Left me wondering if Vinnie or Rita ever made amends with Anselmo. Overall a good read and I've been listening to and enjoying Pantera more and more since this book.
November 24, 2024
Beyond speechless
This is the story I waited to read for 19 years…
I got to know Dimebag really well through this book, and it felt like I spent time with him, with him being my favorite guitarist.
However, it never gets easier or any less painful. We’ll never get him back and I’ll never meet him alive, in person.
He came to rock, and he rocked like no other.
This is the story I waited to read for 19 years…
I got to know Dimebag really well through this book, and it felt like I spent time with him, with him being my favorite guitarist.
However, it never gets easier or any less painful. We’ll never get him back and I’ll never meet him alive, in person.
He came to rock, and he rocked like no other.
May 22, 2017
As a Pantera fan, I was curious to learn more about Dimebag Darrell. I usually stay away from 'rockstar' books in general - usually all fluff. This one was pretty good though - and spoiler alert - it opens with his murder then backtracks to his early life and moves forward.
May 20, 2019
I read this once years ago, picked it off my shelf to read it again but gave up after a few chapters. Pointless read really, no new insights if you're already a fan. Just a collation of interviews garnered from magazines.
December 12, 2019
Great read. Dimebag was one of the most prolific, influential people who to ever hold a guitar. This book goes in depth about him, his life, his skill, and ability to party. He never had an enemy, and wanted to just have fun. All around great read to a person who died too soon
April 10, 2020
I couldn't finish this book. Way too scatterbrained and no chronology to the story being told, I am a fan of Pantera so I was really looking forward to reading this I gave it 100 pages but I'm actually pissed off with this book could of been so much more
November 20, 2021
Not the most entertaining book, but the story itself - Triumphant! People love this guy because he was so Genuine, and because he took his craft as far as it could humanly be taken. That is never Not entertaining.
May 5, 2023
disappointed. Nearly every two pages, the author reminds how great a guitarist Dimebag, how fun he wanted to have, how nice a man. A few anecdots about him and the band. Too many details about his death and too little information about the music.
July 12, 2023
Caged In Rage
The all to brief life of Darrell Abbott is discussed in marvelous detail . This book was a fast read , capturing the energy that Dime brought to everything that he did in life .
The all to brief life of Darrell Abbott is discussed in marvelous detail . This book was a fast read , capturing the energy that Dime brought to everything that he did in life .
July 28, 2018
It was an interesting read and I liked the writing style. I did learn one or two new things but a lot of the book is a rehash of previous interviews from other publications and already known facts and ends up being a little shallow because of that.
August 16, 2018
Great book! Tells you a lot about Dimes life.
June 19, 2019
The story itself is awesome and if done properly would be 5 stars. The book jumps around a lot, and seems like some proper editing was needed.
April 3, 2020
Brilliant
June 25, 2020
Must read if you're a Dimebag Darrell fan!
March 9, 2021
Good read
-great detail, nice pacing
-I like that it was written by an obvious fan of the subject, but told with some objectivity
-great detail, nice pacing
-I like that it was written by an obvious fan of the subject, but told with some objectivity
September 26, 2022
Cool and informative historical review of the life and times of Dime. Lots of appearances from big names throughout the metal world. Fun read for anyone who’s a fan of the heavy music scene.
December 17, 2022
Well researched, well composed, and really tells an in-depth and chronologically cogent story about the life of “Dime”.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews