Key points about Dimebag Darrell’s bathroom guitar
- Exhibit location: The Arlington Museum of Art is displaying a prototype guitar and an amplifier once owned by Dimebag Darrell.
- Bathroom setup: Dimebag kept the guitar and a small tape recorder in his bathroom, where he worked on riffs.
- Vinnie Paul’s account: Dimebag’s brother said the guitarist wrote riffs in the bathroom and sometimes turned everyday experiences into songs.
- Exhibit dates: The display was scheduled to remain open through Feb. 28.
This article explains where Pantera fans could see Dimebag Darrell’s bathroom guitar and what his brother, Vinnie Paul, said about how he used it.
Dimebag Darrell’s bathroom guitar was a working instrument he kept in his bathroom to write music.
Dimebag Darrell’s famed one-of-a-kind “bathroom guitar” is making a rare appearance nearly 22 years after the Pantera member’s tragic death.
Yes, the guitar is exactly what you think it is.
Where could Pantera fans see Dimebag’s bathroom guitar?
Pantera fans could see Dimebag Darrell’s guitar in an exhibit at the Arlington Museum of Art in Arlington, Texas. The display also included an amplifier that belonged to the guitarist.
The Arlington Museum of Art displayed a prototype guitar and amp once owned by Dimebag Darrell Abbott, who spent part of his childhood in the Texas city.
According to the museum’s website, “Arlington 150: Stories of a Legacy” traces the city’s history from its earliest settlers to the present. The exhibit also features what Dimebag called his “bathroom guitar.”
A clear case in one of the Arlington Museum of Art exhibit spaces holds a prototype guitar and an amplifier once owned by Dimebag. The guitar’s sharp-edged design is recognizable to Pantera fans.
READ MORE: The Megadeth Album that ‘Changed’ Dimebag Darrell’s Life
A video shared by the museum noted that the guitar and amp were once set up in Dimebag’s bathroom, where he worked on music.
A drum kit that appears to have belonged to Vinnie Paul, Pantera’s late drummer and Dimebag’s brother, is displayed on a nearby stage.
What did Vinnie Paul say about Dimebag’s bathroom guitar?
Vinnie Paul said that Dimebag kept a guitar and a small tape recorder in the bathroom and used the space to write riffs.
Dimebag’s bathroom songwriting became a topic after his death. In a 2016 interview with Loudwire, Vinnie Paul discussed items his brother left behind after dying in 2004 from a gunshot wound while performing in Columbus, Ohio, including the bathroom guitar.
Vinnie Paul recalled finding a guitar and tape recorder in the bathroom and asking what they were doing there. He said Dimebag explained that he wrote riffs while sitting on the toilet.
Vinnie Paul’s account connected the bathroom guitar with some of Dimebag’s most memorable riffs. He also recalled that Dimebag sometimes wrote less serious songs inspired by everyday experiences.
Vinnie Paul said that Dimebag once wrote a song after having a bad experience at Taco Bell.
WATCH: Vinnie Paul: What the World Doesn’t Know About Dimebag Darrell
The Arlington Museum of Art exhibit featuring Dimebag Darrell’s “bathroom guitar” was open through Feb. 28.
This article recounts the guitar’s museum appearance and Vinnie Paul’s explanation of how Dimebag used it to write music.
What else can Pantera fans learn from the exhibit?
The exhibit placed Dimebag Darrell’s guitar and amplifier within a broader presentation of Arlington history. The nearby drum kit also connected the display to Vinnie Paul and Pantera.
The Arlington 150 exhibit paired local history with objects connected to musicians who had ties to the city.
What does Pantera’s photo timeline show?
The photo timeline looks back at Pantera’s career through photographs and album art.
This Pantera photo timeline revisits the band’s career through images.
Gallery Credit: Lauryn Schaffner
Questions about Dimebag Darrell’s bathroom guitar
Where was Dimebag Darrell’s bathroom guitar displayed? The guitar was displayed at the Arlington Museum of Art as part of “Arlington 150: Stories of a Legacy.”
Why did Dimebag keep a guitar in his bathroom? Vinnie Paul said Dimebag used the guitar and a small tape recorder to work on riffs in the bathroom.
What else was displayed with the guitar? The exhibit included an amplifier owned by Dimebag, and a drum kit attributed to Vinnie Paul was displayed nearby.
How long was the exhibit open? The display featuring the bathroom guitar was scheduled to remain open through Feb. 28.
