A VULGAR DISPLAY OF POWER: COURAGE AND CARNAGE AT THE ALROSA VILLA by CHRIS A. forward by Officer James Niggemeyer Buy now

Review by GREG MAKI

Dec. 8, 2004 will forever live on in the hearts and minds of so many people. It has been called the 9/11 of metal, but that description only begins to tell the story. While the news of the on-stage murder of legendary Pantera/Damageplan guitarist Dimebag Darrell Abbott dominated the headlines, the names Jeffery “Mayhem” Thompson, Erin Halk and Nathan Bray were forgotten by most—if they were even known at all. Like Dimebag, these three men lost their lives at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, in a senseless act of violence. They were laid to rest with little fanfare, and VH1’s Pantera Behind the Music episode never identified them by name.

Author Chris A. has corrected a great wrong with his book A Vulgar Display of Power: Courage and Carnage at the Alrosa Villa. Through extensive research and the cooperation of the families of Thompson (Damageplan’s security chief), Halk (an Alrosa Villa roadie) and Bray (a diehard metal fan), he paints a vivid portrait of each man, showing the reader how they lived and the heroism in how they died. “Jeff Thompson, Erin Halk, and Nathan Bray died while trying to save lives or help others,” Chris A. writes in the introduction. “Such heroism is the stuff of legends; it reminds us of the true humanity of man in the midst of gross, inhuman acts.” Through the author’s words, the reader comes to know, respect and admire these three men. And though Dimebag isn’t the focus, Chris A. doesn’t ignore him. He fills the space between chapters with “Dime Time,” tributes from fans and friends, including Black Label Society guitarist Nick Catanese and Dean Guitars founder Dean Zelinsky.

The book also tells a tragic story of mental illness, as the author thoroughly relates the troubled life of Nathan Gale, the man responsible for the carnage. We learn of the visions he saw and voices he heard as early as the second grade; how simple lies allowed him to enlist in the U.S. Marine Corps and become the proud owner of a handgun his mother bought for him; and his anger toward Pantera, who he believed based their songs on his life but refused to give him the credit he deserved. It makes for unsettling reading, particularly in light of the Virginia Tech massacre.

The author sticks mostly to the facts, avoiding unnecessary conjecture and dispelling many myths and rumors surrounding the events. Participation from the Abbott family is noticeably absent, but that’s understandable. In a way, that works to the book’s advantage, ensuring its focus stays on the three men who are strangers to the vast majority of us. This book will change that. We may never fully understand the events of Dec. 8, 2004, but now we can remember and honor not only the life of Dimebag Darrell Abbott, but the lives of Jeffery “Mayhem” Thompson, Erin Halk and Nathan Bray. Chris A. has done a great service.