HELLYEAH guitarist Christian Brady has shared the following post regarding the passing of his friend and HELLYEAH bandmate, Vinnie Paul. Vinnie, who rose to fame with Pantera, passed away last Friday, June 22nd at the age of 54. He is due to be laid to rest this weekend with a public celebration of his life booked for Sunday. Speaking via Instagram, Brady commented:
“I’m sitting here in tears writing this. I haven’t been able to find the words to do this…maybe I just haven’t had the will to do it yet because I knew once I did, it would make it real and I still keep hoping that this is just a horrible nightmare that I’m going to wake up from. But I know it’s not. A friend of ours said to me today…”sometimes you get to meet your heroes and they turn out to be cool, and then maybe you got lucky enough to meet Vinnie Paul.”
Vinnie…not only was I lucky enough to meet you, I was lucky enough to be taken in as your family. I was lucky enough to create and play music with you. I was lucky enough to have you call me your brother and tell me you love me. I was lucky enough to call you my brother and tell you I love you. You will ALWAYS be with me.
I can’t even begin to thank you for everything you did…for me, for our band. You were the most incredibly generous person I’ve ever known. You changed my life in so many ways and I will FOREVER be grateful for you. The only thing that makes me smile right now amidst the ocean of tears is that I know you’re with Dime again. I know he was there waiting for you with a shot and smiling…”Drink it or wear it big bro!”…and I know the heavens are rocking harder than ever right now.
You always believed that when you lose someone so close to you, you have to live for two. That’s exactly what you did and now that’s exactly what I’m going to do. You will be missed everyday. You will be on my mind and in my heart for the rest of my life. I love you with all of my heart bro. Thank you for everything. May you Rest In Peace. Until we meet again my dear friend..💔💔💔
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#vinniepaul #brothers #legend #pantera #hellyeah #iloveyou #restinpeace”
