Heavy metal band Pantera’s drummer and co-founder Vinnie Paul has died, the band announced on Facebook.
The Texas-born musician died aged 54 on Friday evening, but no cause of death has been given yet.
Paul started Pantera in 1981 with his brother, "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott - the pair were sons to the country-western producer Jerry Abbott. The band had a number one album in 1994 and earned four Grammy nominations, but disbanded in 2003 amid rumours of a rift.
Paul said at the time the breakup was a result of the band's singer, Phil Anselmo, wanting to move on.
In a statement on Pantera’s Facebook page, the group wrote: “Vincent Paul Abbott aka Vinnie Paul has passed away. Paul is best known for his work as the drummer in the bands Pantera and Hellyeah.
“No further details are available at this time. The family requests you please respect their privacy during this time.”
Pantera’s platinum-selling album Vulgar Display of Power is considered one of the most influential heavy metal albums of the 90s, having sold more than 2 million copies.
In 2004 the two brothers formed a new band, Damageplan, but later that year a 25-year-old man stormed the stage at a gig in Columbus, Ohio, shooting dead Abbott and three others.
In 2006, Paul joined Hellyeah, alongside the former Mudvayne singer Chad Gray and Nothingface guitarist Tom Maxwell.