Pantera co-founder Vinnie Paul passes away at the age of 54

Longtime Hellyeah, Damageplan, and Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul has passed away at the age of 54, according to multiple sources. The cause of death is unclear at this time.

A co-founder of famed metal band Pantera, Paul’s drumming was the backbone to Pantera’s rise as one of the biggest metal bands of the 90’s. Albums like Far Beyond Driven and Vulgar Display Of Power changed modern metal, to be sure. After Pantera’s breakup, he also had stints in the supergroup Damageplan, and a highly successful run in Hellyeah.

Modern metal would be vastly different without Pantera.