Los Angeles, CA (April 20, 2012) – Elephant Brand Skateboards, owned by professional skateboarder Mike Vallely today released the Dimebag Darrell tribute skateboard (http://www.dimebaghardware.com) collaboration between Elephant and Dimebag Hardware, founded by Darrell Abbott and Rita Haney. In support of the tribute board, a video was filmed at Abbott & Haney’s home in Dalworthington Gardens, Texas, which you can watch below. The soundtrack, “Twisted” (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dimebag1), is a previously unreleased track written and performed in its entirety by Dimebag.

“Mike is the perfect person to capture the spirit of Dime,” says Haney… “with his rebellious, ‘stand up for your family and by your friends’ attitude and always shooting straight from the heart. Mike and Dime are two peas in a pod— Rockstars and Legends in two different realms, but not so different… entwined with the same ferocious intensity and presence in each of their performances and at the same time they both bear the most genuine of gentle hearts… I am very honored to have Elephant Brand Skateboards represent another passion of Darrell’s— skating!!!”

Officially licensed and paying tribute to one of the greatest guitar players of all-time — “Dimebag Darrell Abbott” — The Dimebag board comes in a sick mid-80′s inspired shape but has the concave and pop of any modern day board. “What’s important to know is that this is not just a piece of merch. This is a skateboard meant to be skated—something that Dime did and loved,” says Vallely. The board is available at http://www.dimebaghardware.com

The video features skaters Mike Vallely & Stone Hendrikx at Darrell & Rita’s home in Texas, aka. “The Fortress”. Also in the video are appearances by Rita Haney, Eric Hendrikx, and characters from the Pantera home videos and Dimevision video including Jeff “Outlaw the Redneck Landscaper” Thull and Jason “Blackey” Lackey. The video was filmed and edited by Eric Hendrikx (co-author, Zakk Wylde’s Bringing Metal to the Children), Stone Hendrikx, a competitive street skater, with edits and animation by Andrew Parker of Elephant Brand Skateboards.

“Dime’s life and legacy is something I value,” states Vallely. “As a Pantera fan and as a fan of Dimebag — to share his life, music and legacy through skateboarding… Man, it’s just too cool.”

The video soundtrack “Twisted” (http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/dimebag1), a previously unreleased song, was written and performed by Dimebag and available on CDBaby & iTunes. “It’s a real testament to Dime’s talent as a writer and singer,” says Vallely. “I love the song. It’s really incredible. And what an honor to have this never-before-heard song accompany the video for the Dimebag board.”

Haney provided the music from her collection of Darrell’s personal archives. “This little ditty is one Dime created after we moved into the hut in DWG, TX (Darrell triumphantly referred our home as “The Fortress”). It was just before his 30th birthday in July of ’96.. hence the line, ‘I lived the lives of a million men, yet I ain’t even 30 years old’ When we were selecting a song for the video, Twisted was the first that came to mind and, after seeing what Eric and Stone Hendrikx captured on video, it was the perfect song and vibe— 100% Dime-style!!!”

“One of my fondest memories was when Darrell played me the song for the first time and he said, ‘Did ya catch it? You went Gold!’” states Haney. “He was referring to the last chorus where he sings, ‘Can you feel me in your soul? I’ve been by your side for ten long years and I ain’t even 30 years old, no!’ I still have the biggest smile on my face every time I hear it!!!”

About Dimebag Hardware

Dimebag Hardware is the vision of Dimebag Darrell Abbott to produce products that he actually used and loved. Owned and operated with Dime’s vision at heart, Rita Haney continues to support the music and career that Darrell loved. http://www.dimebaghardware.com

About Elephant Brand Skateboards

Elephant Brand Skateboards, founded by professional skateboarder Mike Vallely, is a brand that is not framed by someone else’s ideas of cool, or what THEY think skateboarding is from moment to moment… “It’s a brand that simply represents what I have always represented: 100% Skateboarding for love — For Fun. No rules, no divisions, no schools… Just a skateboard as a paintbrush and the world as an empty canvas.”

http://www.elephantbrandskateboards.com

About Eric Hendrikx

Writer & photographer Eric Hendrikx is co-author of Zakk Wylde’s Bringing Metal to the Children (HarperCollins, 2012). A notable contributor to more than a dozen books including Forrest Griffin’s New York Times bestsellers Got Fight? and Be Ready When the Sh*t Goes Down, Hendrikx is also editor of Revolt In Style magazine. He currently lives in Southern California with his son Stone. For additional updates, follow on twitter and Instagram @EricHendrikx. http://www.erichendrikx.com

Published by rbtaleman

Heavy metal (fiend/friend?) Writer, frustrat(or), frustrat(ee), decorated U.S. Navy veteran, Husband(twice), father(three times), grandfather(of seven), FM radio veteran, Concertgoer, music collector, muscle car aficianado. Grown up since five. Child since 45. View all posts by rbtaleman