Club carnage resonates
By Erin Nye & Steve Patrick
The Alrosa Villa shooting that took the lives of four individuals on the night of December 8, 2004 made international news immediately after it happened; however, the local area still feels the effect of the tragedy every day, especially since it’s hard to not be a member of the rock community and not know someone who was there that horrible night. In fact, UWeekly has two staff writers who were there. On the cusp of the release of “A Vulgar Display of Power,” a book that delves into the shooting and the personalities involved more thoroughly than anything before, Erin Nye and Steve Patrick share their stories. — Brian O’Neill
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Possibly the last picture of Dimebag Darrell playing onstage. Photo by Steve Patrick |
By Erin Nye
Damageplan came to the stage as I left the bathroom. At that point, I had no idea where my friends were, and I couldn’t see well enough in there to find them. I knew I would eventually — after all, I was sober and I had the keys! I was in the back toward the bathroom and considering that I have bad eyesight and I am vertically challenged, I really couldn’t see the stage. All of the sudden, I heard distortion, a popping noise if you will. At first, I just assumed it was trouble with equipment. Then I saw people head toward the door. Not knowing what was going on, and having been in a riot-type situation before (Ozzfest 97) I opted to join them.
Outside there was complete chaos. I saw all the police presence and everyone was looking around making sure that everyone they came with were together and wondering what had happened inside. My two friends were nowhere to be found, so I sat in my car. I turned on the radio, hoping to hear what was going on inside, but I had no luck. So I sat and I waited. A cop knocked on my window and asked if I was ok. I said, “I’m ok, but my friends are inside. What is going on?”
He said, “I can’t say for certain what happened, but you’re smart for getting out! Just wait here — don’t try to leave.”
Close to two hours later, I was still waiting in my car, when I finally caught sight of my friends. I was relieved that we had found eachother, while they were glad I didn’t just take off and leave. At that time, they told me what had happened as I looked at them with disbelief. Immediately, I cried. The three of us then drove home in complete silence.
The next day, I watched the night play out on CNN. I saw the video, the timeline, and could do nothing more than thank God that I had gotten out. To this day, I still pray for the victims and their families, even though I didn’t know any of them. All the victims that day were guilty of nothing more than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. They died for something that they loved, and some died trying to save it.
By Steve Patrick
In October 2004, I first heard that Damageplan was coming. I needed a birthday present for my brother Scott. He worshipped Pantera and the ground that “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott walked on, so it didn’t seem possible that I could give Scott a chance to see one of his idols for 8 bucks a ticket. So on December 8th the Patrick brothers went to see the Abbott brothers do what they did best. Finals were over and I was ready to rock. We staked out a spot right by Dime’s mic. I told Scott, “We’re so close you could probably jump up onstage and shake Dime’s hand!” The band took the stage and I snapped a few photos.
Sadly, about 45 seconds into Damageplan’s first song “Breathing New Life”, someone else made it to the stage instead of my brother. A massive, hooded figure made its way across the stage, headed straight for Dimebag. Upon reaching him, a 9-mm Beretta emerged in plain view. The assailant, later identified as madman Nathan Gale, grabbed Dimebag and shot him multiple times with the gun. Honestly, at this point, both Scott and I thought this was some bizarre part of the show. The music was so loud the Beretta sounded like a cap gun.
The feedback from Dime’s guitar told us that something was really wrong. Though, for some reason, neither one of us left. Shots were still being fired, but still we stayed. We needed to help if we could. Dime’s bloody body was pulled out of further harm’s way by brave fans to the pit where attempts to resuscitate him were made in vain. A guitar god to my brother and millions of others was dead. Gale’s rampage also killed Nathan Bray, Erin Halk, Jeff “Mayhem” Thompson, and wounded two others. Eventually, Scott and I physically left the scene after giving our statements to the police, but part of both of us will forever remain tied to the Alrosa Villa.
A book signing for “A Vulgar Display Of Power” will be held at Alrosa Villa on Friday, 4/13 from 6:00 until 9:00 PM. Tickets are $7. Proceeds go to the Anthony Bray College Fund. After the signing, Bobaflex, Noise Auction, Legions Of Fire, Bad Mojo, Under The Sun and Deaf Child Area. Another book signing will take place at Borders (4545 Kenny Rd) on Saturday, 4/14 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. For more information please visit www.avdop.com online.
Originally Published: Issue 498 - April 11, 2007
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