Guitarists Eddie Van Halen and Zakk Wylde (former Ozzy Osbourne guitarist and Dimebag's bandmate in "Black Label Society") delivered profanity-laced tributes at a public memorial service for slain heavy metal guitarist "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (guitarist of "Pantera", "Black Label Society" & "Damageplan").

Edward said: "...I'm here for the same reason as everyone else, to give some love back..." and also "...this guy was full of life. He lived and breathed rock 'n' roll...". Wylde and Van Halen shared the stage, downing shots of liquor and talking about their fellow guitarist.

"A whole part of my life is gone !" Wylde said. "...it's all about family. It's all about God...".

The crowd saved its loudest applause for Abbott's brother, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott, who patted a life-sized cardboard cutout of his brother holding a guitar.

Vinnie Paul Abbott encouraged the crowd to chant his brother's name, saying he hadn't heard it chanted in five days. Abbott said his brother gave everything he had every night and "went down" doing what he loved.

Messages such as "RIP Dime" and "Honk, honk for Dimebag, Peace in the after life" were scrawled on cars in the convention center parking lot. A high-pitched guitar solo blared from a pickup.

Singer Jerry Cantrell of the 1990s rock band Alice in Chains said he had been at a private funeral earlier in the day, and called the service beautiful.

"Today's really been the start of the healing process..." he said, adding that he was heartened by fans who came to the public memorial. "It makes me feel a lot better...".


Meanwhile, Michael Anthony has posted the following message at his official website:

"We were very saddened and angered to hear of the shooting that took place in Columbus, OH last week that took the life of a friend and fellow musician, Dimebag Darrell Abbott.

It was only a few weeks ago that Dime and Vinnie Paul joined us backstage to do some Jack shots while we were in Wichita on the last leg of the Van Halen summer tour.

It flat-out sucks that something like this could happen to someone who just wanted to get up on stage and play guitar.

Our sincerest condolences to Dime's wife Rita, his brother Vinnie and all of the Abbott family. Darrell will be missed."