Darrell Lance Abbott was born in Arlington, Texas, to country songwriter Jerry Abbott. His father owned a recording studio, Pantego Sound Studios, in Pantego, Texas, where Darrell had seen many blues guitarists play; but it was not until hearing Ace Frehley of KISS play that he wanted to start playing guitar himself. At first, he wanted to play the drums. However, after discovering that he wasn't as good as his brother Vincent, he decided to try the guitar instead. At an early age, Abbott began entering statewide guitar competitions and by the age of sixteen had been banned from entering because he had won too often. He often competed against guitar players who had up to twelve years more experience of playing guitar than him, yet his skills surpassed theirs and he was invited to begin judging the contests in question. It was through the prizes he won — including the guitar that has since become his trademark — that he was able to start Pantera.

Pantera was formed in 1981 with Dimebag's brother Vinnie Paul on drums. In the band's early days, Pantera could be considered what would later be referred to (sometimes in a derogatory sense) as hair/glam metal, but the band eventually evolved into "true" metal (a term used by many scene purists) – often classified under the subgenre groove metal, or, by term coined by the band "power groove". Pantera went on to become one of the most influential and popular heavy metal bands of the 1990s. The band officially split in 2003 due to conflicts between members. Phil Anselmo, in the throes of a heroin addiction, started lashing out at other members. After several years of him refusing to come to practices and showing no interest in Pantera, brothers Vinnie and Dime officially broke up the band and went on to form Damageplan.

Dimes last album was with a band called Rebel Meets Rebel. Though this album was released just this year, it was in the making since the early Pantera days ("Cowboys From Hell", "Vulgar Display Of Power", but unfortunatly Dimebag never got to see its release. A tasty Country Metal album, that refreshed Dimes sound and tells you exactly where Dime and the rest of the "Cowboys From Hell" come from, deep down south. With legendary country & blues grass singer David Alan Coe, taking the position of vocalist and good ol' reliable, Rex Brown on bass. It was released under Vinnie Pauls new record label, Big Vin Records.

On December 8th, 2004, while performing with Damageplan at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag Darrell Abbott was shot and killed onstage by Nathan Gale. Abbott was shot a total of five times, twice at point blank range in the head. He was 38 years old.

Rest In Peace Dime