Former Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo has made his first public statement about the murder of bandmate “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, with whom he had feuded in the press in recent years.
Abbott was murdered on stage in Columbus, Ohio, last week during a performance with his new band, Damageplan.
“I love Dimebag Darrell because there was not one motherf-----r like him,” he said. “I love him like a brother loves a brother.”
Anselmo also reached out to Dimebag’s brother/ex-Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul, referring to him as “my other brother. I’m so sorry to his family. I want to say bless his family (and) all of his close friends. I wish his family the least grief they could ever have, and I know it’s impossible.”
Anselmo did not attend Dimebag’s funeral in Texas earlier this week out of respect to the Abbott family.
“I never got a chance to say goodbye in the right way and it kills me,” he said. “I wish to God I could’ve gone to his funeral, but I have to respect his family’s wishes, and they do not want me there. I believe I belong there, but I understand completely.”
The artist, who now fronts hard rock act Superjoint Ritual, ended his message with hints that he may not resurface for some time. “This has changed the entire world, and this is the last you’ll be seeing of me for a long time,” he said. “I hope you’re happy, heavy metal music magazines, media, I hope you’re happy. I’m done.”