There is no such radical and successful transformation in the history of music as that experienced by Pantera in the 1990s, And it’s that going from being a mediocre glam band to redefining metal history is not a feat that is seen frequently.
Throughout the 1980s, the Abbott brothers, Vinnie Paul and Dimebag Darrell released four albums that went unnoticed among fans of glam and hard rock; a sector awash in groups with pretty kids, spandex pants, and plain lines.
Along with bassist Rex Brown and vocalist Terrence Glaze, the Texas native brothers released Metal Magic (1983), Projects in the Jungle (1984), and I Am the Night (1985); all very influenced by the style of Kiss and the soloist side of Ozzy Osbourne.
The blurry video below is none other than the 18-year-old Dimebag Darrell, shredding his way through an approximately seven-minute-long guitar solo with his dependable Dean ML.
In the clip, the young Darrell gives obvious references to numerous key six-string influences, particularly Randy Rhoads and Eddie Van Halen, with an impression of Yngwie Malmsteen driven in.
Keep going for the video below: