The music world was rocked yesterday by the death of founding Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul Abbot, who passed away at the age of 54. Now, some of his closest friends and contemporaries have paid tribute to the late rocker.

Yesterday afternoon, the official Pantera Facebook account broke the news that Abbott had passed away, sharing no further information, and asking for respect at this difficult time. However, Abbott’s family spoke to TMZ earlier today where they revealed that the drummer had passed away in his sleep, with the Las Vegas medical examiner set to determine a formal cause of death.

Vinnie Paul had founded Pantera back in 1981 alongside his brother, and lead guitarist of Pantera, ‘Dimebag’ Darrell Abbott. The group welcomed vocalist Phil Anselmo in 1986, before seeing their breakthrough success in 1990 with their fifth album, Cowboys From Hell.

Following Pantera’s breakup in 2003, the Abbott brothers formed Damageplan, recording one album in 2004, before dissolving in December of that year following the onstage murder of ‘Dimebag’ Darrell by a fan during a performance in the US state of Ohio.

Vinnie Paul would later join Texas-based heavy metal band Hellyeah in 2006, performing on all five of the group’s albums, with their last, Unden!able, being released in 2016.

Now, following the drummer’s passing, notable members of the metal community have shared a number of moving tributes to the late rocker, including members of Metallica, Foo Fighters, Guns N’ Roses, and Slipknot, just to name a few.

Vinnie…..to the man with the slickest kicks and the best vibe ALWAYS. You inspired us all, not only with your music, but with your love and hospitality. You were one in a million, and will be missed… pic.twitter.com/CTa5rWClJl

— Foo Fighters (@foofighters) June 23, 2018

Tragic news about Vinnie Paul today. He was one of the warmest people I knew. A truly good & fun friend. We're going to miss you more than you could possibly have known. RIP buddy. https://t.co/yQqruY4tio

— Slash (@Slash) June 23, 2018

My God, we have lost another friend. I don't understand what is happening. The music world has been completely shaken by too many pre-mature deaths the last few years, its horrible. Vinnie Paul was definitely the kindest living legend I've ever met. He endured so much tragedy, yet still had so much more love and positivity. Truly a kind soul with such a giving heart. Just in the last couple years he surprised Korn with some cool gifts. Right after we walked off stage in Dallas we were shocked to find a brand new thundering loud stereo blaring music in our dressing room as we walked in – compliments of Vinnie Paul. And on our European tour with HELLYEAH Vinnie surprised Fieldy with a brand new bass… signed by Paul McCartney. That's the type of person he was. Vinnie, you were one-of-a-kind and will be so missed by countless people. God, let your unconditional love and mercy bring Vinnie Paul back together with his brother, and be with his family through this devastating loss. https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/obituary/8462386/vinnie-paul-dead-pantera-damageplan-hellyeah

A post shared by Brian Welch (@brianheadwelch) on Jun 22, 2018 at 10:52pm PDT

Thanks for the one of a kind memories my dear friend, I hope that you are in the arms of our brothers. pic.twitter.com/zNulWNAt5H

— Synyster Gates (@SynysterGates) June 23, 2018

Vince. Love you man. RIP #vinniepaulabbott

A post shared by Corey Taylor (@coreytaylor) on Jun 23, 2018 at 3:44am PDT

I just woke up in Belgium to the news that my friend Vinnie Paul has passed away. Another metal hero taken too soon. Say hello to Daryl for me. Rest In Peace, my dear friend. @Pantera @hellyeahband #vinniepaul

— Dave Mustaine (@DaveMustaine) June 23, 2018

So sad to hear of the death of Vinnie Paul. Loved when Pantera did shows with us and in later years Vinnie was always front and center at all KISS shows. RIP and condolences to his family. https://t.co/DaQREBNVW7

— Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) June 23, 2018

Thank you for all the good times, Vinnie…your incredible hospitality and warm vibe was infectious and inspiring. Here’s to another shot of Crown Royal and a next level game of air hockey down the road! RIP, brother. Much love. ?? pic.twitter.com/ehNXoO88jY

— Lars Ulrich (@larsulrich) June 23, 2018

Very sad news this evening. This man always treated me & the guys in my band like family, from the very first time we ever met him with his brother at a Damageplan gig in Texas– whether backstage at a show, on his crazy tour bus, at his club, at his house, he was always a gracious host to us. He just wanted people around him to be happy. I didn’t see Vinnie much the last time we played a gig together because I heard he was in a very foul mood– this was highly unusual for him. Why was he in a foul mood? Because we were playing a big festival in Chicago, he had bought a TON OF FOOD to grill in the parking lot for everyone (as usual), & the fire marshall came and shut him down before he could start the bar-b-que. That’s the type of dude he was– he just wanted to make sure people were having a good time, & he took steps to make that happen. He also did me a very solid favor when I was in some very serious legal trouble a while back by writing a detailed letter to a judge explaining what had happened to his brother & the need for good stage security– that wasn’t an easy thing for him to do, but he did it anyway because he was a true friend and knew I needed some help– I’ll never forget that, & I made sure he knew I appreciated it. He also never minded when I got in his face with my camera– I took this photo with a 50mm fixed lens at a festival we were playing with Hellyeah in Iowa in 2016– that means I was basically inside his drum kit. When he saw me poking my head in there, he just turned, flashed me this grin, & kept on rocking. I love this photo– Big Vin smiling and doing what he did best. Rest In Peace, Vinnie Paul. You’ll be missed. BIG LOVE.

A post shared by D. Randall Blythe (@drandallblythe) on Jun 22, 2018 at 11:13pm PDT

“You inspired us all, not only with your music, but with your love and hospitality. You were one in a million, and will be missed,” wrote the Foo Fighters on social media. “He was one of the warmest people I knew,” echoed Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. “A truly good & fun friend. We’re going to miss you more than you could possibly have known.”

While others also shared their memories of the rocker’s influence on them, Lamb Of God frontman Randy Blythe shared a heartfelt tribute which noted how he came to his aid back in 2012 while on trial in the Czech Republic for the manslaughter of a 19-year-old stage-invading fan.

“He also did me a very solid favor when I was in some very serious legal trouble a while back by writing a detailed letter to a judge explaining what had happened to his brother & the need for good stage security,” Blythe wrote.

“That wasn’t an easy thing for him to do, but he did it anyway because he was a true friend and knew I needed some help– I’ll never forget that, & I made sure he knew I appreciated it.”

Check out Vinnie Paul performing on Pantera’s ‘Cowboys From Hell’:

The article was originally published on Tone Deaf