Pantera drummer and co-founder Vinnie Paul Abbott passed away Saturday morning, his family has confirmed.
Pantera announced the news in statements released to the band's official social media accounts.
"No further details are available at this time," read the statement. "The family requests you please respect their privacy during this time."
Paul was 54.
Paul is revered for his work in the iconic '90s heavy metal band Pantera.
Paul formed Pantera in the early-'80s with his brother Darrell. Pantera rose to prominence in 1990 upon the release of its Cowboys From Hell album. Paul's "power groove" style of drumming, along with his brother's unique guitar playing-style inspired a generation of rock and heavy metal musicians.
The band is best-known for shocking the music industry in 1994 when its album, Far Beyond Driven, debuted at #1.
Though defunct since 2003, Pantera has remained one of the most influential American heavy metal bands of all-time.
Darrell was murdered in 2004 during a concert at a club in Columbus, Ohio, with his and Paul's post-Pantera band Damageplan.
For years, Paul openly struggled with depression stemming from his brother's death.
The drummer took a few years away from performing live, until forming Hellyeah in 2007 with members of Mudvayne and Nothingface. Hellyeah went on to release five albums from '07 to '16.
Tributes from Paul's heavy metal contemporaries poured in all day Saturday.
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