Vinnie Paul, 54, drummer for Pantera, Damageplan and Hellyeah, has died.
“Vincent Paul Abbott aka Vinnie Paul has passed away,” Pantera posted on Facebook about 20 minutes ago. “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.”
Paul was a founding member of Pantera, forming the group alongside his brother, Dimebag Darrel (real name Vincent Paul Abbott) in 1981. Paul and Dimebag went on to form Damageplan in 2003 and was performing with Dimebag when he was shot onstage the following year.
Update: sources told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Paul died of a “massive heart attack” in his sleep in his Las Vegas home June 22.
