Customer Reviews

A Vulgar Display Of Power: Courage and Carnage At The Alrosa Villa

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The book has a dual thesis; one being the victim's lives and the second the nightclub rampage and police shooting. What I did not realize while reading the book is that the author did a splendid job of weaving Thompson's, Bray's, Halk's and Abbott's seemingly unintersecting lives into the tragic end. I felt this book was in-depth and gripping.

There is no shortage of research done by the author. He has credited numerous people for contributions of photos, interviews and documents. Given the subject matter, it may have been easy to invoke a morbid fascination from the reader for the sake of selling books but, he tastefully used hundreds of crime scene photos. He obviously established a repor with CPD Officer J. Neggemeyer as well as other investigators. He did a fine job of delving into the lives of the victims and articulated what good people they really were, which made the occurrence that much more disturbing and tragic.

I thought the book was accurate for the most part, save for a few mistakes in municipalities. The only reason I didn't give the book 5 stars was I felt that referring to Nathan Gale as "the beast" was childish. Although he slowly changed into a beast given his mental illness, changing the moniker does not change the fact that Gale was single-handedly responsible for immeasurable pain and damage.

This book is a book that should be read by everyone, not just Heavy Metal fans. It is a true story honoring the memories of not only Dimebag Darrell Abbott, but also about Erin Halk, Jeff Thompson and Nathan Bray, each of which lost their lives trying to help Dimebag and others from the attack of an armed madman.This book goes into the background of these men, and also of the killer, his motives, and the actual incident at Alrosa Villa. "A Vulgar Display Of Power: Courage And Carnage At The Alrosa Villa" is a deep, moving story. I think that anyone who reads this book will be enlightened and find the book as interesting as I did. I would highly recommend it!

Being a big fan of Dimebag's for many years I was very saddened to hear about his death. Like many others I was hungry for more details and information that would help me understand what could drive a person to commit such a crime. Chris A.'s book has provided me with those details and has help me appreciate the other men who lost their lives while trying to protect others. I highly recommend this book to both Dimebag/Pantera/Damageplan fans as well as those interested in true crime books. Chris' investigation and interviews have rendered a book that is thorough as well as interesting.

Much like many heavy metal fans across the world, I felt like I hit a concrete wall face-first at 100 miles per hour upon hearing the news of Dimebag Darrell's tragic death. Being a long-time metal guitarist, I always looked up to Dime during my formative years as a player. The events at Alrosa Villa, where 3 other individuals were murdered on the night of 12/8/04, piqued my curiosity as to what really happened, how it happened, and what caused it to happen. Not only does this book objectively describe the volatile personality of the perpetrator (I refuse to mention his name), it also does a great job at presenting all the facts that led him to "snap". However, the true purpose of this book was to offer a glimpse into the lives of the 3 other people who died at Alrosa Villa: Nathan Bray, Erin Halk, and Jeffery "Mayhem" Thompson. Considering the fact that a rock superstar was murdered that night, it's easy to overlook the less prominent victims of this tragedy. What Chris A accomplished here was a humanization of those whom the media overlooked or relegated to the sidebars. Three seemingly different individuals showed remarkable courage, willingly putting themselves in the path of gunfire in an attempt to end a lethal situation and help the injured. This is what this book is REALLY about. It is NOT an attempt to capitalize on the death of a celebrity.

I just finished reading this book last night and I'm not ashamed to admit I cried through a good deal of it.

I was at the Alrosa Villa that awful night, but I was so concerned for my own safety that I fled the club and drove home as soon as I realized the shots were real. I had gone to the show alone so I had no instincts to protect anyone else. After reading this book I realize how heroic the people who stayed behind really were. While I was at home trying to make sense of what I had just witnessed, most of the other fans remained there, eager to help the police in any way they could, which most accomplished by simply waiting and giving a statement. I felt a little guilty about my own self-preservation instinct.

This book allowed me to finally know in full what happened after I left. And it chilled me to the bone. The writing is direct and to the point, you feel like you are there. The photos took me right back to the night. Having attended hundreds of concerts at the Alrosa over the years, the pictures of the club itself struck me the most.

I highly recommend this book to any fan of Pantera, Damageplan, Dimebag, or True Crime writing.

Chris A. has done a great job on really telling the story of what happened on 12-8-04. You are so drawn in that you can't put the book down. I personally was so in the book that by the end I cried, I was so sad by what happened to these people and their families. I never heard of this story nor did I know who Dimebag was but by the end I knew who the hero's were. I hope that you enjoy this book as much as I did.

Ursula

I had pre-ordered this book because I am a huge fan of Heavy Metal and an even bigger fan of the band Pantera and Dimebag Darrell Abbott. The news hit me just as hard as it hit everyone else who had been touched by this talented guitar player. This book cleared up a lot of things for me. I had followed the many articles and kept up with the story on a daily basis to help understand why such an act was committed to a person who could not make an enemy if he even tried. There was a lot of information that was released that was either completely incorrect or was easily confused with the actual occurence on that night at the Alrosa Villa. What I was able to take out of this book was a little bit of solice knowing what had actually happened that night and how Nathan Gale was able to acheive this attrocious feat. I think that everyone wanted to be able to point a finger at a single individual for letting this happen, but the fact have now been drawn out and you really can't blame any one person for allowing Nathan Gale to do what he did. A lot happened in that 5 minutes, which seemed like an eternity for most of us. If you are not familiar with teh persona of Dimebag Darell Abbott, read this book because everyone involved has the same thing to say about him. If you are hurt by what happened on that night at the Alrosa Village, read this book. If you are a music fan of any sort and can appreciate what Dimebag was able to do for many musicians, you must read this book. I would like to thank the author Chris A. for writing this book. There has always been a large gray area surrounding this case and I beleive that this book helps clear up most of that gray area.

Chris A. tells the story of what happened that horrendous night in a balanced, unbiased way. The author presents the facts in their brutal honesty and points no fingers. This book is complete with the stories of those who died, diagrams of the Alrosa Villa, and testimony from many who were there that night, leaving no question unanswered. I highly, highly recommend this book!

In July 2006, rock author and photographer Chris A. called to inform me of a new project he was working on. He began by asking, "Mark, you were a fan of Dimebag, weren't you?" My reply was very firm, "Always will be." Chris asked, do you remember the names of the other guys who were killed on stage that night?"

The truth was I did not remember the names of the other victims. Only Dimebag and the killer, Nathan Gale. Chris informed me that he had full support of the families of the victims, and he was working on their very unique story, from birth up to the night of the murders, their funerals, and a section at the end that the family members wrote themselves. His enthusiasm for telling their story was contagious. Minutes into the call I knew that MJS Music Publications had to be a part of this project. Sight unseen, I told Chris that the story of these men had to be told, and I would mortgage my home if that is what it took to tell it.

As Chris completed the first drafts of each chapter he sent them to our office. Our job as the editor and publisher is to read the drafts from a very neutral perspective, find errors, and not get emotionally attached. That was entirely impossible for A Vulgar Display Of Power: Courage and Carnage at the Alrosa Villa (AVDOP). The story of these three men are incredibly unique, yet all three shared the most intense passion for life and those they called friends and family. As the executive editor, I've read and reread this story a grand total of 7 times to date (04/18/2007) and I never tire of it. Erin Halk, Nathan Bray, and Jeffery "Mayhem" Thompson lived extraordinary lives and it's been my pleasure to get to know and love them through the pages of AVDOP! I am confident that all who read their story will experience the same bond. Knowing these great men will change they way you embrace and live your life, as well as the way you interact with the people you know and love. It is no wonder why they chose to rise to the top, out of several hundred people, to try and help put an end to the destruction caused by the killer, as did surviving band manager Chris Paluska and drum tech John "Kat" Brooks.

There is also the chilling story of Nathan Miles Gale. A person who had every opportunity to live a stable life, with a mother and siblings who loved him, and a community that tried to accept him time and time again. Yet, constantly he made the wrong choices. There is no justification for Gale's actions, and I hate him more for it now than I did on the morning of December 9, 2004 when I first heard of the tragedy. One positive thing that can come from telling Gale's story is that readers will become more familiar with the sickness which drove him, and people who may be afflicted by severe Paranoid Schizophrenia might get help before they are driven to the point of Gale's madness. AVDOP makes no excuse for what Nathan Gale did. Even with his mentally disabling disease we see that he knew right from wrong, yet he chose disorder and chaos at nearly every turn in his life.

We learn of the family owned venue, The Alrosa Villa, and it's history from the 70's to the night of December 8, 2004. A concert hall which has promoted both local bands and celebrity acts including Johnny Winter, Steppenwolf, David Lee Roth, Jackyl, Pantera, Vince Neil of Motley Crue, Ace Frehley of Kiss, Skid Row and more.

Of course Dimebag Darrell Abbott is a part of the story in AVDOP, but not in a biography format. We are brought up to speed with his celebrity life in his bands Pantera and Damageplan, which is integral to the story since it is a Damageplan concert which brings all of the characters together on December 8, 2004. At the end of each chapter, a loving tribute is paid to Dime by some of his close friends and devoted fans. These contributions, called Dime Time, come courtesy of Mistress Juliya, Nick Catanese of Black Label Society, Tony Rambola of Godsmack, Dean Zelinsky of Dean Guitars, and others.

Thanks to the assistance of an intermediary, Vinnie Paul Abbott, at the request of the author provided an audio recording of a Metal Hammer Magazine interview with ex-Pantera singer Phil Anselmo which showed the rage that tore the band apart. This insight gives fans and readers in general a reminder that it is important to watch what we say, especially in a public forum. I get the impression that Anselmo will live with a deep regret for things that were said for a long time to come, if not the rest of his life.

In AVDOP we meet living hero Officer James Niggemeyer who, only minutes into his shift for the Columbus Police Department, responded to an emergency call at the Alrosa Villa. While we cheer James for his actions which put an end to the carnage at the Alrosa Villa, we also get a very real look at the intense stress and fear he experienced while facing the unthinkable tragedy that night, and the scars that are left in the aftermath.

The author, with a law enforcement background, brings to life the harmonious efforts of the local emergency crews as they responded to the 911 calls, placing the reader in the Alrosa Villa on December 8, 2004, not to witness a tragedy, but to experience the courage and compassion that shine through as the true spirit of humanity.

The reality of this story is immense. It is well written, easy to read, and impossible to put down. A modern, true story of good vs evil, where the bad guy ultimately loses and is reduced to ashes while the true nature of humanity shines through and inspires all who read.

Mark Sternal

Editor/President

MJS Music Publications

A Vulgar Display of Power documents the murders of "Dimebag" Darrel

Abbot, Jeff Thompson, Erin Halk and Nathan Bray at the Alrosa Villa

in Columbus, Ohio on December 8, 2004.

This exquisitely researched book presents a compelling picture of

a troubled, probably psychotic, man who believed that Pantera, Dimebag's

previous band to Damageplan, had stolen his thoughts and put them

into their songs without giving him credit! Eric Gale was discharged

from the Marines due to his mental condition. Unfortunately, the Marine

training that he had helped him successfully quickly clear two jams

that occurred as he was firing his Beretta 92F which is the same weapon

as the M-9 used by the Marines. Gale's mother put up the money to

purchase the Beretta as a Christmas present!

There are several heroes in this story including the three other men

who were killed, all of whom tried, in some respect, to stop the carnage

which lasted 4 minutes and 59 seconds. Perhaps the most important

hero is the Columbus police officer that dispatched Gale while he

was holding a hostage who he appeared to plan to kill. The description

in the book is absolutely chilling as told from Officer James Niggemeyer's

perspective. Imagine knowing your job is to protect life and property

and being put in a situation where you are forced to make a decision

on taking a life in a matter of seconds while hearing chants coming

out of the crowd of "kill the mother f**cker".

For those unfamiliar with Dime's music and his impact, Zak Wilde's

and Eddie Van Halen's tributes at his funeral help explain the fact

that he influenced a whole generation of guitar players in a far bigger

way than sales of albums by Pantera and Damageplan would indicate.

This is a really fascinating book. Buy it!