In a recent interview with the Dean Zelinsky Guitars YouTube channel, Dimebag Darrell’s longtime guitar tech, Grady Champion, shared memories from his time with the late guitarist, including the unconventional start to their friendship and guitar lessons.
Champion talked about his initial encounters with Darrell, starting from their high school days to the point where their professional and personal lives intertwined. Champion, who considered himself part of the ‘nerd club’ in high school, found an unexpected friendship with Darrell, as he explained:
“When I started working at the music store, he was giving lessons; I started taking lessons from him. And then he was like, ‘Screw all this lesson sh*t, just come to my house, let’s just hang out.’ So we just started hanging out, and we became really tight [when they were] 18 or 19 [years old]. We just became close, inseparable friends, and the bands that I was in at the time, Defiance, would open up for Pantera.”
Grady is well-known in the metal scene, especially for his work with Pantera. Although he had retired from touring, his return for the Pantera tribute concerts excited many fans. In these shows, his main job is to recreate Dimebag’s famous guitar sounds and effects.
Zakk Wylde Steps Into Big Shoes
The choice of Zakk Wylde as Darrell’s successor has been met with widespread approval from Pantera fans and the late Abbott brothers’ estates. In a 2023 Guitar World interview, Champion expressed admiration for Wylde’s dedication and respect for Darrell’s legacy, saying:
“You can see it in his face and the way he does stuff. You can see his passion, his ‘want’ to be there, and his deep love and respect for Darrell – and that’s the reason I’m there, too. It’s really refreshing to know why Zakk’s there.”
In July 2022, it was revealed that Pantera’s Philip Anselmo and Rex Brown would team up with Wylde and Charlie Benante for a global tour. Pantera will hit the stage again for their North American tour’s second leg in February 2024, following a successful 20-city summer tour and opening for Metallica. The ongoing tour began on February 3 in Sunrise, Florida, and will end on February 27 in Quebec City.
Watch Champion’s full interview below.
