Metal Martyr

Dimebag Darrell’s Girlfriend Comments on Dime’s Death and Phil Anselmo

by Scott on December 4th, 2007

Yep, the time draws closer to Decemeber 8th. It’s hard to believe it’s been almost three years already. As you know Dimebag tributes, article and interviews are going to start crawling out of the wood work. I figured I’d knock mine out early by posting this older interview (November) with Dime’s former girlfriend “Rockin Rita”. Here are a few excerpts, you can read the entire interview at Metalmonthly.com

On Phil Anselmo:
Metal Monthly: Your Thoughts on Phil, is he a part of the problem or part of the solution?

Rita: Hahaha! He’s not our problem anymore! But seriously, I think people have the right to choose what they like or dislike… my issues with Anselmo are my own & they shouldn’t have to be anyone else’s, if I ask people to choose… then I wouldn’t be any better than him! He has been the king of lies & manipulation in our camp for a long time, I know now that, that started with the Heroin use, but he can never go back to being the person he once was, & when he was that person, man he was on!!! A great front man & I would never try & say different, ut I just don’t believe or believe in him anymore… I can’t! When that Metal Hammer interview came out with Philip saying Dimebag Darrell needs to be beaten severely… (& no matter how he tries to explain that one away he said it! Plus a few other things! Metal Hammer sent the audios of his interview to Vinnie & yes! That’s Phil Anselmo’s voice! I heard it myself!)…. But after it was posted on Blabbermouth, Dime asked me & I could hear the lump in his throat, “What did I ever do to him?” & you know… I had to fight the lump in my own throat, I hated seeing him hurt, and he asked me again, “What did I ever do to him?” & I told ‘em,”Nothin’ baby… all you ever did was love ‘em & in his heart you are the one person on this earth that he truly respects & he can’t face you… so in his drug induced mind he’s made you his enemy… for no reason at all… all because he’s a junkie & your not, which makes you not part of his world” & ya know, he said, “Maybe you’re right, but I can’t do this anymore” I know the last thing Dime told me that day about him was he was done! He would never stand on stage with him again! Philip had humiliated & embarrassed him for the last time! Dime told me then, “I’m writing him off, no longer will he trample through my peaceful mind!” & When that tour bus came home & there was no one to get off of it… that was one of the hardest things I had to do was go on there & pack up his bunk, but while I was doing it I found a 2 page letter that Dime had written about Philip & in his own handwriting it says what he had told me that day & a few other things about Mr. Anselmo, so in my heart I just can’t believe in him anymore… it’s tired… when Dime forgives him then I will… I have to stand by Dime & his brother, it’s what I know is right.

On Dimebag and his death
Metal Monthly: How did you meet Darrell ? Was it love at first sight?

Rita: Haha! Hell no! I pushed him off his bicycle at the bike trails when we were 8 yrs. old!

Metal Monthly: How long were you together?

Rita: Well for almost 20 yrs, but we knew each other for 30! He’s only 10 days older than me! Which he like ta use when we disagreed! He’d say,”Hey now! I’m ten days older than you, so I’m the elder here!” hahaha, he always made me laugh!

Metal Monthly: Did you hear about how David Lee Roth Told Zakk Wylde to get off his Fuckin stage during Van Halen Rehearsals?

Rita: Yeah Scott Ian told me about it, he was there… hahaha… hey man that’s Dave for ya! He’s still the king!

Metal Monthly: Many People do not know that Eddie Van Halen Buried one of his Guitars with Darrell, this is true right? And like 20 bottles of Crown Royal?

Rita: Hahaha! There’s a few bottles of 7 up in there too! My boy luvvvs Seagram’s! But yeah… Vinnie & I were trying to figure out which guitar & about that time Ed called… he asked me on the phone if there was anything he could do & I said ‘Yes’ as a matter of fact there is… “Can you stripe him a yellow & black guitar?” He said, “Are you sure you don’t want the red, black & white?” I said, “No… Dime told me the yellow & black is the shit! It’s the toughest lookin’! He always thought that! We had just seen Van Halen in Midland, TX a few weeks earlier & that was the first time Dime ever got to meet Eddie Van Halen! They hung out before & after the show! Dime even got to play on his rig at sound check! He was like a kid in a candy store… the way his eyes were lit up… He told me later in the limo, which Van Halen provided… how cool is that! Anyway he leaned over & looked me right in the eyes & said, “If I died tonight it wouldn’t matter, cause I’ve done everything now, I’ve met Eddie VanHalen!” & he had the biggest smile on his face… he was so happy! But shit! I strayed! I’m the world’s worst about telling 10 stories at once! Haha! Back to Ed… He said, ‘Ok’ that he would be down in a couple of days. When Ed came in at the viewing he had the guitar, but it wasn’t the guitar we expected… he told Vinnie & I that ‘Dime was an original & only an original deserves the original!’ He popped open the case & there it was… his original 79 still with the rusted set of strings on it! It was so amazing!!! I took it in to Dime & I said, “See baby you didn’t get a replica! You got THE one” & I gave him a kiss on the forehead & place it in there with ‘em… Ed was awesome & I thank him still!

On Friends
Metal Monthly: I know that you have seen many good times, and some pretty funny shit, is there any other character out there that could bring it as much as Darrell? Like Zakk Wylde or anyone else who comes to mind?

Rita: Man I hate to say it, with out sounding biased, but in the almost words of Fucking Hostile, “He stands alone!” (Vince!… then you have that killer drum roll… haha) Sorry that song just went off in my skull! But to pick some very special people that I’ve had the privilege to become friends with… I’d have to say Corey Taylor is a pretty entertaining cat, he’s usually right off the cuff… hmmm… & Dave Grohl has a lil’ Dimebag up in ‘em… Grohl always has a big smile on his face & is one of the best host, very tentative! Always makes sure everyone is having a good time! Positive energy just flows off him! I have to say all the Hell Yeah boys & their crew… as far as bringin’ it! They do a damn good job, but then again most of them come from the school of Dimebag! Haha! What can I say?

This is a really good interview that is not too old, read the entire thing.

Image source and Also a great Dimebag Remembered Story

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POSTED IN: Pantera