Dimebag Darrell was one of those rare one-of-a-kind guitar players with a unique style instantly recognizable as soon as he sets pick to string. Swampy, staccato, sharp, with trademark squeals that arrest the ear.
Exhibit A.
The main riff in “Revolution Is My Name” might be his best, and he has many. You can make a case for “Cemetary Gates” or “Walk” ; right now I’m feeling this one.
“Revolution is My Name” appeared on 2000’s Reinventing the Steel, the band’s last album. It was nominated for Best Metal Performance at the 2001 Grammys.
Dimebag was a huge KISS and Ace Frehley fan and the feeling was mutual. After his 2004 murder KISS stepped up. Gene Simmons donated a KISS coffin (!) for his burial. Ace spoke for Dimebag during his posthumous induction into Hollywood’s RockWalk and later dedicated an album to him.
Numerous subsequent metal guitarists have cited him as an influence. The dude could shred.
Metal will always be the music of Generation-X. Even though it got underway in the early 70s with Black Sabbath and so was fostered by later Boomers, it exploded in popularity in the early 80s when high school aged Gen-Xers went all-in. In this song Phil Anselmo (an X-er, b. 1968) voices the cultural influences that made him, and our generation, who we are. The shadow of Vietnam and the turbulent 70s.
'68, into the world born
The '70s, a breath after the war
Life was confusing because of my age
Should my eyes open for tomorrow's gains?
I can't help the way I am
There's no trust and there's no end
What is my name?
The somewhat amusing video is a paean to the formative music of our youth, KISS and Led Zeppelin and their ilk.
Enjoy this crushing tune on Metal Friday, friends.
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