How an unreleased Dimebag Darrell guitar solo ended up on Nickelback’s best-selling album

Pantera's Dimebag Darrell and Nickelback's Chad Kroeger performing live
(Image credit: Tim Mosenfelder/ImageDirect / Stefan M. Prager/Redferns)

When he wasn’t tearing up stages with a Dean ML slung over his shoulder, Dimebag Darrell was probably drinking. And he loved to make new drinking buddies.

That’s how Pantera’s paths first crossed with Nickelback. Introduced by Jerry Cantrell, who was supporting the then-ascendent Canadian rock outfit back in 2002, the two bands struck up a whiskey-fueled friendship.

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Michael Astley-Brown
Editor-in-Chief, GuitarWorld.com

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.