Music is a means of definition for adolescents seeking their own interpretation of the world and their place in it. It's vital to self-discovery for most. The genre and accompanying style a teen chooses to identify with may define their circle of friends, as well as how they are perceived by other teens and the adult community around them. So who or what influences a musician to pick up an instrument?

What or who influenced the legendary Darrell Darrell Abbott and his brother Vinnie Paul of the band Pantera?

Born in Texas, Dimebag and Vinnie grew up in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, where they came from a very musical background. Their father, Jerry Abbott, owned and engineered a recording studio not far from their home. The brothers used to hang out down at the studio on a regular basis, where they got to see their share of Texas legends. Dime and Vinnie were also influenced by such greats as Tony Iommi, Ace Frehley, David Allan Coe, Edward Van Halen, Randy Rhodes, Tommy Aldridge, John Bonham, Alex Van Halen, and Neil Peart, just to name a few. This helped progress the 'dynamic duo' into the most influential guitarist and drummer of the 1990's, where they have continued their groundbreaking techniques and styles into the new millennium.

The Band Tinfoil's Start and Influences As Told By Dave Harmes:

Tinfoil formed at a poetry reading given by Cher Bibler who asked guitarist Dave Harms to accompany her poetry. The performance went so well they decided to form a band. They named the band Tinfoil because the very first piece of recorded music, Mary Had A Little Lamb,was recorded on a single piece of Tinfoil by Thomas Alva Edison. Tinfoil's influences are as diverse as the members of the band. Cher is heavily influenced by Patti Smith, Sonic Youth and X. Dave is influenced by The Beatles, Nirvana and recently by the Unwritten Law. Joe enjoys the Violent Femmes, Sublime and Stone Temple Pilots, Rich likes Tool and Rod has always enjoyed the Grateful Dead. Cher has always written poetry and wanted to create music that had a literature aspect. Chers father, Sam Bibler, was a piano player in a Big Band; music was always around her. One of her favorite memories as a child was sitting right in front of the bass drum at her fathers rehearsal. Daves grandparents met while performing in a big band. Daves first performance was in front of the entire school during an 8th grade assembly, singing Hey Jude. He got the show because he was the only one who knew the words, but found out he enjoyed being on stage. Dave and Rod were in a band together in high school called Cellar. Rods mother actually owned a restaurant where Elvis Presley ate. His family gave him the unwashed table cloth as an heirloom. Tinfoil is always inspired by what happens around them. Songs are written about life experiences that happen to them, or stories they hear. For example, when a high school student committed suicide under the bridge less than a block from Tinfoils rehearsal space, they documented the event by writing the song, Under the Bridge.Their latest release, Dead Language includes songs about teenage death, anorexia, prescription death addiction, and an unrequited high school crush. In the past, Tinfoil has explored AIDS, homosexuality, drug addiction, religion, death and the fickle music industry.

Hamell On Trial's Influences:

"My musical influences include rock and punk as much as anything else, there's a reason I named my son Detroit," explains Hamell. "That's where I'm coming from with my songwriting. There's absolutely no reason why a man with an acoustic guitar can't rock." Other influences are Iggy and The Stooges, Lou Reed, The MC5, The Ramones, and The Clash.

Josh Miller From New Found Element:

Josh began coming of age as a musician in high school, when a buddy directed him to Pantera's influential slab of hard rock, "Vulgar Display of Power." The fulcrum of the band's sound was guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott who combined power and soul in a pummeling approach that helped define early '90s metal. As soon as Josh heard it he was hooked. "His guitar playing was just perfect," Josh said. "There are always songs you listen to that you think, "They could have done this differently or that differently, but listening to that album you realized they couldn't do it any better." Dimebag Darrell was Josh's hero and the reason why he picked up the guitar. Josh was in the bands, Everyday Pain and Sole Remedy and is now with New Found Element.



Deb's Top 5 Songs Of The Day:

The Monkey's, Daydream Believer
Nickleback, Feeling Way Too Damn Good
Him, Wings Of A Butterfly
Pantera, 5 Minutes Alone
The Beetles, Hey Jude

Current Mood Song Of The Day:

The Knack, Good Girls Don't

Local Artist Of The Day:

New Found Element