Watch PHILIP ANSELMO Speak at Vinnie Paul Memorial, Watch Entire Vinnie Paul A Celebration Of Life Video Here

A video message from ex-PANTERA singer Philip Anselmo was played at the public memorial for his former bandmate, drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott. It marked the first time Anselmopublicly commented on Vinnie Paul‘s death.

The event, which was held earlier today (Sunday, July 1) at Bomb Factory in Dallas, Texas, included emotional tributes from a number of Abbott‘s fellow musicians, some of whom appeared in person while others sent short video speeches expressing their affection for the fallen PANTERA and HELLYEAH drummer.

Anselmo‘s tribute was a few seconds long and saw him speaking in his trademark deep voice. “Vince, always have love in my heart for you, man,” he said (see video below). “Rest in peace.”

Vinnie Paul and his brother “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by a troubled schizophrenic who believed that the members of PANTERA were stealing his thoughts.

Up until his death, Vinnie remained on non-speaking terms with Anselmo.

Vinnie and Anselmo‘s relationship got more acrimonious when Vinnie indirectly blamed Philipfor Dimebag‘s death, suggesting that some remarks the vocalist had made about Dimebag in print just weeks earlier might have incited Dimebag‘s killer.

Vinnie Paul has consistently shot down persistent calls for a PANTERA reunion with Zakk Wylde (BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, OZZY OSBOURNE) filling in for Dimebag on guitar, telling Metal Hammer: “I’m not interested because there’s no Dime, and, to me, if there’s no Dime, there’s no PANTERA. That’s my reason. It’s behind me. I’ve moved on. I play in a band called HELLYEAH and I really love doing it. I’m looking forward to moving forward; I don’t wanna live in the past.”