Ride for Dime is an event where legendary musicians come together in celebration of the one and only Dimebag Darrell to raise Money and Rock Dallas, TX.  Get the first of our instalments from the event inside! Words: Sara Harding

Texas, the historical home of George W. Bush, cowboys, cheerleaders, big ass steaks, JR Ewing and rock star of the people the late, great Dimebag Darrell.  “Are you ready to getcha pull on?”, drawls Dime’s widow Rita Haney in her unmistakable Texan twang as she sashays to the  bar to get the round in.  On order is the drink of the day – the Black Tooth – a heady mix of Crown Royal Whiskey and just a splash of coke. This was the tipple of her man and the axeman we are all here to honour – Dimebag Darrell Abbott.

We’re at the Palladium, a huge arena sandwiched between the oil rich skyscrapers of Downtown Dallas and we are all gathered here for the fifth Ride for Dime annual fundraiser. The first black tooth of the day is going down nicely and i’m in great company. Joining me and my good buddy Rita are bonafide members of rock royalty who’ve flown in from all over the planet to raise some dollars for Dime’s favourite charities. Clinking glasses and raising a toast to the ‘man upstairs’ are Kiss legend Ace Frehley, Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, Phil Demmell from Machine Head, Tim King from Soil, Aaron Lewis from Staind, Byron Davis from God Forbid, Bobzilla Dime’s brother Vinnie Paul. Rita is thrilled that everyone has taken time time and travelled thousands of miles for this the ultimate rock star jam. She’s stoked as every rock star on her hitlist gave up their own time to fly to in and play a setlist like no other. As Rita looks around at her rock compatriots she smiles and flashes her big Texan teeth, ‘If Dime was here right now he would be so happy. This year’s event is bigger, better and more bad ass than ever. I’m overwhelmed. What happened with Dime bought alot of people together – all sorts of rock genres and i hope that this event can continue to be about this unity as well as raise money and maintain Dime’s legacy’.  A load of ‘hell yeah’s’ are to be heard as Rita speaks and once again we raise a glass to the air.  It’s nearly time for the first big event of the day.

We are expecting thousands of bikers to descend upon the venue. Bikers from all over the world have flown in to take part in the Ride for Dime – the rock ‘ride by’ as its known in these parts.  Their journey began earlier today at the Fortress, the Arlington home of Darrell and Rita and continued past the Moore’s memorial garden where Dimebag is laid to rest and then a couple of hours later was due at the Palladium where the all star jam is about to take place.

Come back tomorrow for part 2 from Ride For Dime!