It’s been a year, and still, the world of heavy metal is in mourning over the premature passing away of Vinnie Paul of Pantera fame, and during the last years of his life, drummer of supergroup Hellyeah.
With drum tracks for their upcoming album Welcome Home already recorded, the band decided to go ahead with recording and releasing the album. Hellyeah guitarist Christian Brady spoke to Metal Injection about their upcoming album Welcome Home and his memories of Vinnie.
“It was touch and go for a while, figuring out what we were going to do,” said Brady about the hectic time following Vinnie’s death. “We definitely knew, no matter what, we had to finish the record. I guess it would have been a different story if his drum parts weren’t finished or if we were just getting started, but because we were at the point we were at with the record where all the drum tracks and guitars and bass had been laid down we were able to finish it.”
“It was fortunate that that was the case because at least we got one more record to be able to give to the fans that Vinnie was a part of,” he went on to explain.
On a more personal note, Brady reflected on his time together with Vinnie: “[He] always used to say when we were hanging out late at night, ‘Man, I wish my brother would have known you, man. He would’ve loved you.’ And that always made me feel sad but great as well. Just to hear that from him was always such an honor, but you know a little sad too.”
Vinnie’s brother, Dimebag Darrel, was shot on stage by a deranged fan in 2004.
Welcome Home is set to be released on September 27, 2019.
