10 Hard Rock Musicians That Died Too Soon

For most metalheads in the early 90's, there wasn't too many things to be proud of. With hair metal starting to die off and grunge becoming the name of the game, it seemed that the era of heavy riffs had died off along with the rest of the hard rock community. In the midst of everything, Pantera came onto the scene and became the true saviors of all things heavy.

While each member added a piece to the puzzle, Dimebag Darrell was the true heart of Pantera whose heavy riffs could split your head open. However, as the band reached the end of the decade, the tension between the band and Phil Anselmo led to an eventual hiatus. Things seemed to be looking up once Darrell found a new home with Damageplan, but this metal juggernaut would soon be silenced.

Shortly after kickstarting a tour with Damageplan, the band's stop in Ohio turned into a nightmare when a deranged fan climbed onstage and proceeded to kill Dimebag along with a few other fans. Though the man was eventually apprehended, the damage had already been done. Dimebag may have been taken from us in an instant, but the joy and fun that he created through his music has remained immortal.