DIMEBAG DARRELL Tribute On The Road With FAMILY VALUES

The participating artist list reads like a "who's who" in rock: James Hetfield, Dave Navarro, Ace Frehley, Dave Grohl, Kirk Hammett, Nancy Wilson, Marilyn Manson, Jerry Cantrell, Billy Gibbons, Kerry King, Rob Zombie, KORN and Zakk Wylde, to name a few.

In a fitting tribute to the late Dimebag Darrell, best known as the guitar player for PANTERA and DAMAGEPLAN, "Six-String Masterpieces: The Dimebag Darrell Art Tribute" was created to honor his memory with a collection of Dean ML guitars, each with its own design, unique to the creator.

Dean Guitars donated the "blank canvas" Dean ML guitars to select musicians and tattoo artists to create their own tribute to Dimebag. "Six-String" curator and producer Chris "Curse" Mackey, creative director of the Action Arts Agency, has continued to expand the list of artists participating in the installation.

"The Dean ML is the only guitar that could be the canvas," Mackey said. "Dime played that guitar from the time he was 17."

In addition, Mackey, along with Six-String, has now officially spent as much time on the road as many of the names whose guitars are included in the exhibit. He's criss-crossed the country for two NAMM shows, SxSW, MTV, Ozzfest and more and at present, on Family Values.

48 guitars are in the collection and by the time the project is finished, there will be a total of 66. Mackey was guest editor/art director for a special 100-page Icon issue of Guitar Player magazine devoted to the exhibit. Guitar World, Revolver, MTV and other media outlets have dedicated space to the project that continues to inspire and amaze all that come across it.

The Six-String exhibit of painted and sculpted Dean MLs, will continue to tour for as long as the support is there. There's been discussions with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Seattle Music Experience, Rolling Stone and others.

The ultimate goal is to get the exhibit into the hearts and minds of as many people as possible. At some point, the collection will be auctioned off with proceeds going towards integrating arts and music into a public education initiative beginning in Arlington, Texas, Dimebag's hometown.

"Whether you're a PANTERA fan, a music fan, a guitar fan and/or a person who simply appreciates what happens when a creative mind ventures down a different avenue, this exhibit is a must see," states Mackey.

On December 8, 2004, while performing with the band DAMAGEPLAN, Dimebag Darrell Abbott was shot and killed onstage. He was 38 years old.

"'Six-String Masterpieces' is a testament to Dimebag Darrell's legacy and the scope of the lives he inspired," concludes Mackey.

"I hope this show inspires kids to pick up a guitar or a paint brush, bash on some drums, write some lyrics, whatever it takes to get the frustrations and pain we all feel sometimes out of their system and direct it in a creative or nonviolent way, while at the same time, helping to make these creative outlets more available to those who can most benefit from them."

Remaining dates on Family Values Tour:

Sep. 01 – Holmdel, NJ - PNC Bank Arts Center
Sep. 02 – Wantagh, NY - Nikon at Jones Beach
Sep. 03 – Hartford, CT - New England Dodge Center
Sep. 05 – Saratoga, NY - Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Sep. 06 – Cleveland, OH - Tower City Amphitheater
Sep. 08 – Pittsburgh, PA - Post Gazette Pavilion
Sep. 09 – Detroit, MI - DTE Energy Center
Sep. 10 – Indianapolis, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
Sep. 12 – Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
Sep. 15 – Camden, NJ - Tweeter Waterfront
Sep. 16 – Boston, MA - Tweeter Center
Sep. 17 - Washington, DC - Nissan Pavilion
Sep. 19 – Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
Sep. 20 - W. Palm Beach, FL - Sound Advice Amphitheatre