Vinnie Paul, ex of Pantera and Damageplan, hasn't been in a band in almost three years -- since he saw his brother, Dimebag Darrell, gunned down in December 2004 on a Columbus, Ohio, stage. But today, he re-emerges with a new gig: as drummer in Hellyeah, a sorta heavy-metal supergroup that releases its debut album today. (By supergroup, of course, I mean the singer and guitarist come from Mudvayne, another guitarist is in Nothingface, and the bass player used to be in Danzig. It's no Crosby, Still, Nash & Young, but, still.)
The album, which features such tracks as "Alcohaulin'Ass" and "GodDamn," is being distributed through Sony Music; there's even a "clean" verson, dunno how. And there is, by the way, a release party tonight at Vinnie's stripperiffic Clubhouse on Manana Drive -- which, since you weren't invited, you can watch live by clicking here (and then commence ta weeping). As for his return to a band, Paul tells the UPI today: "I was like, 'Man, I'm not sure if I'm ready to do this... But persistence pays off. They kept calling, and finally one night they got me when I'd been drinking and listening to music. And I said, ' This sounds like a great idea.'" Most things do when you've been drinking and listening to music. --Robert Wilonsky