Monday marked 10 years since the murder of one of rock music’s most influential figures: “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott. The former Pantera and Damageplan guitarist was shot to death during a performance at the Alrosa Villa nightclub in Columbus, Ohio on December 8, 2004. Nathan Gale killed four people that night, before a Columbus police officer killed the former Marine.

Abbott and brother Vinnie helped co-found Pantera in the early 1980s, although the signature lineup didn’t form until 1986, when lead singer Phil Anselmo joined the brothers (Darrell on guitar, Vinnie on drums) and bassist Rex Brown. The band introduced its unique metal sound on the 1990 album Cowboys from Hell, and continued that popular style until the group’s break-up in 2003. Their single “Walk” is regarded as one of the band’s best tracks, and is still a favorite for radio stations throughout the country. Pantera also provided part of the soundtrack to a Spongebob Squarepants episode.

The Columbus Dispatch published a story Monday morning talking about the relationship between the owner of Alrosa Villa, the police officer who shot Gale, and the brother of a security guard who was killed that night in 2004. The venue remains open for concerts, and often hosts non-rock acts, although its reputation remains as a key music hall for heavy metal bands.

Even with the shooting, Columbus has not seen a decline of performances from bands in the same genre. In 2007, Crew Stadium hosted the first “Rock on the Range” festival, an event that has grown in popularity over the years. Acts already confirmed to play in 2015 include Slipknot, Judas Priest, Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson, and Breaking Benjamin, which re-emerged as a quintet earlier this year.

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