Former Pantera frontman Phil reveals his conversation with the hero policeman who ended madman’s killing rampage after four lay dead
Difficult question: Phil Anselmo
Former Pantera frontman Phil Anselmo recently revealed he’d spoken to the cop who stopped the shooting rampage which ended Dimebag’s life.
And he said any member of Pantera would have been a target for the ex-Marine who opened fire on Dime and three others at a Damageplan concert in 2004.
Ohio police officer James Niggemeyer shot the madman in the face, killing him instantly and ending the horror.
Dimebag’s brother and bandmate Vinnie Paul, who was also a member of Damageplan after Pantera split, has not spoken to Anselmo since. The tragedy appears to have cemented the distance between them.
The singer wasn’t allowed to attend his former colleague’s funeral – but he’s spoken of the conversation he had later with Niggemeyer.
Anselmo told High Times: “I asked him the hard question. I said, ‘Tell me, did he purposely shoot just Dimebag?’
“And he said, ‘Yes.’ And I kind of choked up. And I thought for sure I knew what was going to come out of his mouth when I said, ‘Why? Why did he shoot Dimebag?’
“He said they went back to his apartment, this murdering motherfucker, and he had notebook after notebook – stacked notebooks – with writing how he was going to kill Pantera for ripping off his songs.
“Kill Pantera. Pantera. Not once did any of it name any of us specifically. If it did it was all four of us, but it was rare.
“And so I said to this cop, ‘So, then, what you mean is, had it been me playing with Superjoint Ritual or Down that night, this motherfucker would have come after me?’
“And he just said, ‘Absolutely.’ As a matter of fact, he was crying and all he could do was nod his head, ‘Yes’.
“And this poor bastard is scarred as well. Very scarred. Not many of us ever blow a fucking person’s head off after a mass murder.”
Oh shut the fuck up Anselmo. You were great with Pantera, but you have the IQ of a broken brick. You’re a moron.
Why so jealous?
Does this make Phil feel closer to death. It’s not the fact that you asked those questions of the cop but the fact that you have it published, makes you come off as an asshole. Like, wow, my “Brother” was murdered in cold blood on stage…. BUT wait everyone…. HEY LOOK, that could have been ME!!! PROBABLY WHY YOU WEREN’T ALLOWED AT THE FRIGGIN’ FUNERAL IN THE FIRST PLACE!!!! Wonder if George, Paul & Ringo ever asked the cops, hey man was Mark David Chapman just after John or were we ever mentioned too? I bet not, ya know why…cause it didn’t matter, it was their friend that was murdered, they’re were in too much pain of the loss of their friend and had to much respect to try and play a lame ass sympathy card. Everyone deals with grief and death in their own way, fare enough, no one however cares for a self martyr! If this was somehow taken out of context well that is something else but the way it’s stated here is only gonna piss people off, can’t see what other purpose there was to this interview so mission accomplished. Get on stage and sing and stop asking “THE HARD QUESTIONS” it doesn’t suit you.
Mr Anselmo doesn’t make it clear when the conversation took place –– it may have been a long time after the tragic incident. I could be wrong, but the way I perceive his line of questioning, he really just wanted to know what everyone wants to know when they lose a loved one: “Why?” People look for reasons for death; it’s human nature. Even when they’re pretty sure the answer will be that there’s no reason. So it’s a hard question because Mr Anselmo knew he didn’t want to know the answer either way; but he had to ask it. Anyone who’s been in the position of being able to ask is likely to have felt similar emotions. Bereaved friends and family often ask doctors the same kind of question. I could be wrong, and I know there are strong feelings about the entire situation, but I can’t help feeling it’s unfair to Mr Anselmo to berate him in this instance. I think he’s just trying to deal with death –– and he’s having as much trouble as most people have.
Ch;M.
He’s asking because he feels guilty. As in,”Dimebag got shot after Pantera broke up, Pantera broke up because I got into heroin for my back pain because X amount of bottles of piss before a show didn’t cut it anymore. I guess I am largely to blame as that’s where Vin decides to place his anger.”
jeezes christ LEAVE PHIL ALONE…all the greatest bands go thru member arguments, artistic disagreements, band break ups, look at Pink Floyd, John Lennon & Paul McCartney, Van Halen vs. DLR & Sammy…the list continues to include Hetfield vs. Mustaine back in the day and yes Pantera. They recorded, toured & worked and lived together CONSTANTLY for years…you or me would have all sorts of disagreements after that much time spent working together. It hurt Phil greatly that MEDIA BS came out that “…it was Anselmo’s fault that Dime was shot…” , or “…the murderer was upset that Pantera had broken up because of Phil…” BLAHBLAHBLAH. Its all BS. Pantera was/is one of the BEST bands that ever existed. There music will live on. The tragedy of Dime’s murder will never be forgotten. And believe me, Phil was as hurt and pissed and broken up about Brother Dime’s death as anyone. Had he not been murdered, there would DEFINITELY have been a PANTERA reunion, after time heals wounds. Didn’t Ozzy Osbourne & Tony Iommi bury the hatchet after the most vitriolic statements came out from both sides? Stop slaggin’ Phil…is a very talented performer, lyricist and songwriter…
My .02
i’m a different patrick than the previous one…i shoulda picked a different name LOL…anyhoo i posted on on 11-1-11 not 01/11/11, stickin’ up for Phil…and I’m a guitar player, LOL