Review: A Vulgar Display Of Power, Courage And Carnage At The Alrosa Villa

A Vulgar Display Of Power: Courage And Carnage At The Alrosa Villa is a fairly fast read and hard to put down. This isn’t a book about the life and death of Dimebag Darrell Abbott, but a book about the life and death of everyone that died that gruesome night in December, 2004.

It starts off by telling you about the first time Nathan Gale made an assault at a Damageplan concert in Cincinnati, Ohio. A lot of people didn’t know or hear about this incident in April of 2004. That night nobody died and the only person that got hurt was Gale, after security dragged him out in back of the venue and subdued him until police arrived. No charges were pressed by the band at that time. Maybe if they pressed charges this book would have never been written.

Each chapter introduces one of the victims and summarizes their life, from birth leading up the the tragedy. You get to know each person on a somewhat personal level…even Nathan Gale. At one point, you actually feel sorry for Gale because you realize that he had mental issues. But when the read through Chapter 11: By Demons Be Driven, you no longer see him as a human being. You get to know Nathan Bray as a hard working family man with a love for metal and everything Dimebag Darrell. You get to know Jeffrey “Mayhem” Thompson, a big man with a huge heart. You learn about Erin “Stoney” Halk, a U.S. Marine turned Roadie. Of course you get to know Darrell Abbott a little more too. In between chapters is “Dime Time” contributions about people that new or loved Darrell Abbott.

There are plenty of photos in the book and tons of reference. The Author, Chris Arnold did a lot of research in the writing process of this book. Chris A. took the time to make sure the details were there and accurate in recounting the events that unfolded on December 8th, 2004. He also stresses that although it will be a night that most everyone remembers the death of Dimebag Darrell Abbott, that there were three other people that died there that night. People that made an effort to stop Nathan Gale and/or help other victims of the shooting. Sure Dimebag loved and was loved…but so where the other people that died that night. If you want to learn about the shooting at the Alrosa Villa and the people involved then this book is a great read and will open your eyes to a lot of things.

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