My lord, has it really been FIVE YEARS since the beyond senseless murder of metal guitar god Dimebag Darrell? The music community was rocked to its core this month in 2004 when a deranged “fan” shot and killed Pantera guitarist “Dimebag/Diamond” Darrell Abbott (along with 3 others) in a Columbus, Ohio, music club while performing with then-current band Damageplan.

In recognizing this tragic event’s 5-year anniversary, Revolver magazine is doing a cover feature in tribute to the accomplished and widely admired guitar legend (of which you can count your Reverend a fan). Of special note to comic book fans is the talent responsible for the original cover to this issue, graphic artist Tim Bradstreet. Along with work on the Punisher, readers are likely familiar with his lengthy run of covers of Vertigo’s Hellblazer series.

From Revolver’s press release:

REVOLVER Magazine has teamed with renowned and award-winning graphic illustrator Tim Bradstreet (The Punisher, Hellblazer, “Vampire: The Masquerade”) for a Pantera Vulgar Display Of Power commemorative issue, celebrating guitarist Dimebag Darrell on the fifth anniversary of his death. The issue–available only on newsstands from December 22 through February 22–captures the defining moment in Pantera’s career and features Bradstreet’s stark and powerful cover illustration of the classic 1992 album cover photo.

The REVOLVER Vulgar Display Of Power issue includes an additional Pantera illustration by Bradstreet, rare photos, as well as exclusive interviews with all surviving Pantera band members (Phil Anselmo, Vinnie Paul, Rex Brown); Dime’s longtime girlfriend Rita Haney; album producer Terry Date; musicians Rob Halford, Rob Zombie, Sean Yseult, Scott Ian, Zakk Wylde, Nick Bowcott; and other key friends and associates. In fact, this marks the first piece to include interviews with both Phil Anselmo and Vinnie Paul since the 2006 VH1 “Behind The Music” on Pantera.

In this issue, REVOLVER Magazine and writer Jon Wiederhorn debunk the myth behind the Vulgar Display Of Power album cover photo shoot and reveal the stories behind how “Diamond Darrell” became “Dimebag Darrell” and the origins of Dime’s signature “Black Tooth Grin” drink.

Each newsstand copy of REVOLVER’s Vulgar Display Of Power issue will include a special memorabilia pack with an authentic replica of a Vulgar Display Of Power tour backstage laminate and concert ticket, a Pantera show flyer, and sticker. In addition, REVOLVER will give away Tim Bradstreet’s original hand-drawn cover art for the issue, an Affliction Pantera Signature Series T-shirt, Dean Dimebag Dimebonics ML Electric Guitar with Case, Dunlop MXR DD11 Dime Distortion Pedal and DB01 Dimebag Signature Wah Pedal, Seymour Duncan Dimebucker Pickup, and ddrum Vinnie Paul Signature Snare. Look for contest details in this issue and enter online at www.REVOLVERmag.com.

Fans can also purchase a highly limited-edition (only 250 printed) Vulgar Display of Power Commemorative T-shirt featuring Bradstreet’s cover illustration at www.REVOLVERmag.com/store.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 at 5:02 pm and is filed under Announcements, Art and Design, Music, News & Views, Pop Culture, The Reverend's Show, Vertigo. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.