VINNIE PAUL’s Official Cause Of Death Revealed

Vinnie Paul Abbott‘s cause of death has been revealed. The 54-year-old PANTERA and HELLYEAH drummer died of dilated cardiomyopathy — an enlarged heart — as well as severe coronary artery disease, a heart condition. Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg told TMZ, he died of natural causes.

Dilated cardiomyopathy results in is a chronic weakening of the heart muscle, typically the main pumping chamber (or left ventricle). The ventricle stretches and thins (dilates) and can’t pump blood as well as a healthy heart can.

he PANTERA and HELLYEAH drummer was buried on Saturday (June 30) next to his brother, PANTERA guitarist “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott, and their mother, Carolyn, at Moore Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Arlington, Texas. He was laid to rest in a custom “Kiss Kasket” provided by KISS members Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley. The casket was offered as a gift at Vinnie‘s family’s request. Vinnie was also buried in some of his trademark clothes, including his hat, shoes and flannel.

Vinnie Paul and Dimebag co-founded PANTERA. When PANTERA broke up in 2003, they formed DAMAGEPLAN. On December 8, 2004, while performing with DAMAGEPLAN at the Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio, Dimebag was shot and killed onstage by Nathan Gale. He was 38 years old.