The announcement posted on his Facebook page was short and succinctly:

Vincent Paul Abbott aka Vinnie Paul has passed away.
Paul is best known for his work as the drummer in the bands Pantera and Hellyeah.
No further details are available at this time.
The family requests you please respect their privacy during this time.

Vinnie Paul regained stardom with the band Pantera that he formed with hos brother Dimebag Darrell (Darrell Lance Abbott) in 1981. The band's breakthrough came with their 1990 album 'Cowboys from Hell.' After the band called it quits in 2003, the brothers started a new band called Damageplan. They released 'New Found Power' in 2004. It would be the only release of the band because Dimebag Darrell was shot dead on stage at the Alrosa Villa, Columbus, Ohio on December 8, 2004.

His latest successes were with super metal group Hellyeah, formed in 2006. The band released five albums so far, and were recording a new one at the moment Vinnie Paul died.

Vinnie's brands
Vinnie was one of ddrum drums's biggest names on the artist roster and had his own signature drumsticks with Vic Firth (SVP model). Besides these brands he also played Danmar Percussion, Evans drumheads, Roland, Sabian cymbals and used shure microphones.



Avenged Sevenfold with Vinnie Paul


Pantera - I'm Broken