HALESTORM singer Lzzy Hale has commented on the passing of Vinnie Paul Abbott. The former PANTERA drummer reportedly died in his sleep at his home in Las Vegas on Friday, June 22.

Lzzy wrote in an Instagram post: “My heart is broken. Vinnie, you were one of the first rock stars I ever met. You sang [HALESTORM‘s] ‘It’s Not You’ to me in Texas before it was even a thing. You gave me my first strip club experience and made sure one of the girls danced to ‘I Get Off’. Not only were you an influence and a supporter of my band but you were such a good friend, always there with a smile, and a blacktooth grin. You always found your way into our life over the years, and we’d always pick up right where we left off. You were greatly loved and will always be a part of the HALESTORM family! Say hello to your brother for us… and teach them angels to fuckin’ rock! Till next time, my brother!”

In a 2014 interview with NYS Music, Vinnie Paul called Lzzy “an amazing vocalist.”

Vinnie Paul and his brother “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage.

Vinnie Paul was most recently in the band HELLYEAH alongside MUDVAYNE vocalist Chad Gray and NOTHINGFACE guitarist Tom Maxwell.

HALESTORM will release its fourth album, “Vicious”, on July 27 via Atlantic.

Fonte: Blabbermouth.net