Jason Bonham dedicated a LED ZEPPELIN classic to Vinnie Paul Abbott during JASON BONHAM’S LED ZEPPELIN EVENING‘s June 23 performance at BB&T Pavilion in Camden, New Jersey.
Prior to launching into the first notes of “Stairway To Heaven”, Bonham took the mic and told the crowd: “[This is] a very special song that we didn’t do last year. But I thought it was right, and especially right to do it today. I’d like to dedicate this song to a dear friend of mine, Mr. Vinnie Paul, who we lost last night. This is to celebrate, not to be down. Let’s celebrate the life. God bless you. Tell the one you’re with you love ’em every day. This song is for all of you.”
Vinnie Paul formed PANTERA in the 1980s with his brother, guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott. Their father was Jerry Abbott, a successful country songwriter whose tunes were recorded by the likes of Emmylou Harris and Freddy Fender.
Vinnie Paul was most recently in the band HELLYEAH alongside MUDVAYNE vocalist Chad Gray and NOTHINGFACE guitarist Tom Maxwell.
Vinnie Paul died on Friday, June 22 at his home in Las Vegas. His body has been turned over to the medical examiner to determine a cause of death, and after that, he will be flown back to his home state of Texas to be buried between his mother and brother.
Fonte: Blabbermouth.net