| In February of 2000, Punishment attended
the NAMM 2000 music convention in Los Angeles. Each year the convention gives every music
company imaginable, a chance to unveil and sell their newest product There were hundreds
of vendors showing off to the music industry just how good they really are. No bullshit
there. Rock stars filled every isle and signature booth. Some busy signing frantic
fan’s posters and T-shirts at their own hungover pace, while others gathered in
groups and shared stories of partying and stage setups. |
Motley Cr�e bass player Nikki Six
talking
with Van Halen Bass player Michael Anthony
|
The King exchanging phone numbers with
Rob Zombie guitarist Riggs
|
One booth in particular caught the
band’s eager eyes. The B.C. Rich guitar vendor booth (These are some of the craziest
fuckin' designs you’ll ever see six strings and a neck attached to.) Looking up and
down the rows of sharp weapon like instruments, one thing in particular stood out; a
poster announcing the guest appearance list for that particular day. On the very top of
the list was the only name that mattered Slayer’s hitman and the undisputed ruler of
the thrash metal kingdom… Kerry
King! |
| Within ten minutes there was a commotion
on the other side of the exhibit. Standing there with his trademark tattoo running from
head to fingertips, dressed in a black shirt and camouflage pants was the man himself. Kerry
fucking King! Punishment wasted no time. Easily making their way through the fanatics
rushing toward the King, they started talking to him, asking questions and shaking hands
with their idol. For fifteen minutes the band members stood their and watched as the King
signed picks, shirts, posters, CD’s and vinyl records, taking a pause every few
seconds to throw the devil sign or a middle finger at a camera. |
PUNISHMENT and Kerry King
|
Wondering what else NAMM
had in-store for them; Punishment walked on toward the other guitar and drum exhibits
Seeing a banner that read “Washburn Guitars”, the band realized the possibility
that Pantera Guitar player DimeBag Darrel might be there endorsing his guitar company
DimeBag Darrel... drunk as shit
|
There he was.DimeBag Darrel. They
couldn’t believe it. They had been at the show less than an hour and had already seen
two of their heroes. There was a line stretching down at least a couple hundred feet, full
of wide-eyed metalheads about to meet their God. Punishment was soon in line claiming
their favorite Pantera songs and videos and quoting various DimeBag speeches (Each one
containing the word fuck three or four times). Before long they were close enough to hear
the shrill cries of a fully loaded DimeBag, giving each fan their own personal Dime
“drunken outburst” along with an 8’ x 10 autographed picture. Logan was the
first to reach the shred master. |
“Holy shit!!
It’s DimeBag fuckin' Darrel man!! I don’t fuckin' believe it!!”
shouted a still unbelieving Logan.
| Dime was quick to respond letting him
know that this was the real deal yelling back, “You better believe it
mother-fucker!!!!” He signed
their shirts and posters and gave one last round of high fives and continued on with the
rest of the growing line.
Punishment could only stare in disbelief
while DimeBag went back to shouting obscenities and pounding his cup of beer. |
Punishment with Pantera Bass player Rex
|
Even when they
gotten the pictures back, they still had a hard time believing that they had met the dudes
that they listen to so religiously every day. Next year They’ll bring a video camera
so you guys can see first hand what they experienced.
Logan and Isaac with one of the Hun Brothers
|
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