On December 8th, it was one year since one of the horrendous events in rock history took place; the on-stage murder of “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott.

I am sure you all remember the story of a clinically declared schizophrenic man named Nathan Gale ran onto the stage during Damageplan’s (Abbott’s new band) in Columbus, Ohio, and taking shots at Abbott and others. Every music magazine has talked about it at least two or three times. And as most of you read, I was at the event in question.

Throughout the past year, certain people that didn’t read the article find out, and many different reactions come about. Some just sit there in amazement, as I tell the story of the event, as if I was telling a ghost story. I think the number of times I’ve been asked to talk about the story hovers somewhere about 200 or so, so it does grow old after a while. Others laugh it off, and actually think it’s cool and dangerous that I was involved in a situation like that. If they had to live that situation out, I am sure they wouldn’t have the same reaction the next time.

Now, as the first anniversary of this horrible event takes place, two questions seem to arise: do I feel safer when going to a rock concert? And will I do anything to observe the event?

To answer the first question, if I feel safer at a rock concert then I did a year ago; I would have to say no. In the wake of this event, some venues did put metal detectors into their place, to make sure things like this wont happen again. Things feel the same when I go to a show, just with more remembrance to the man killed on stage.

As a whole, this year really hasn’t made me feel more comfortable with the venue security at places, as I have heard stories of situations in the country. Back in June, there was a stabbing at a Corrosion of Conformity concert in Tampa, where two people were killed, and three others were injured. I saw the band perform three weeks before at Harpos before that, and it was very possible that situation could have happened in any place.

Back in early November outside of a Bret Michaels concert in Massachusetts, his tour bus was fired upon by someone in a pickup truck. No one was harmed. Perhaps someone thought “Something to Believe In” sucked, and felt like taking it out on the performer, but it shows how far things still have to go before one can truly feel safe at a concert.

A concert is a place where people are supposed to go to have a good time, and forget about life’s problems and hassles. It’s a place where you can forget about the bad news on the television or perhaps being out of work. But many times, whether it's because of alcohol, or some mental condition, people have the ability to go into a rage where taking someone out is the best option. It just gets sad after a while, but unfortunately, I don’t see this sort of sporadic behavior stopping altogether.

Now, as far as trying to remember the event, this as about as far as I want to go with it. Even though it may not be on the same scale, but it’s like someone in New York trying to forget September 11th, or someone in New Orleans tries to forget Hurricane Katrina. It’s something I’ve dealt with, and moved on. But I don’t feel like taking a night out of my life to recollect the thoughts of that evening. If I want to remember the music, I'll throw on a Pantera CD, and end it there. But remembering that night is something I don’t really care to do.

So, just remember the music, and enjoy the Holiday Season.