Unfortunately this week, I keep to the topic of loss and uncertainty that has been the common theme of recent articles. This time, we up the ante with the sudden death of Avenged Sevenfold drummer Jimmy "The Reverend" Sullivan who was found dead in his Huntington Beach, California, home over the recent Christmas holiday. He was 28 years old. Sullivan’s untimely demise was reported at the scene as being due to natural causes, but autopsy results were inconclusive and further tests are pending.
Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) was formed in 1999 by original members The Rev (born James Owen Sullivan), lead vocalist M. Shadows, rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance, and bassist Matt Wendt. Lead guitarist Synyster Gates joined the band later that same year. The band members were just 18 years old and still in high school when they recorded their debut album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, which, with its fusion of hardcore punk and heavy metal, instantly piqued the interest of rock fans.
The band's second effort, Waking the Fallen, landed them a major-label recording deal when it was released in 2003. With its more refined, mature sound and cleaner vocals, Waking the Fallen had Avenged Sevenfold being compared to bands like Metallica and Iron Maiden.
Avenged Sevenfold continued to evolve their sound with each album. City of Evil, which dropped in 2005, was A7X’s third record and their debut for Warner Bros. The album marked a transition from screaming metalcore to a hard rock sound that made crossover superstars of the band based in large part on the strength of the killer single, "Bat Country." Inspired by the Hunter S. Thompson novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, “Bat Country” helped earn Avenged Sevenfold an award for Best New Artist at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards, where they beat out fellow nominees like the red-hot Rihanna and Panic! at the Disco.
A7X's self-titled release in 2007 continued to build on the band's success with a grittier, more experimental sound. Avenged Sevenfold produced four hit singles including "Almost Easy" and "Afterlife", both of which were written by The Rev. He also wrote and sang lead on "A Little Piece of Heaven", a song which substituted brass instruments and a stringed orchestra for lead and rhythm guitars, giving it the feel of a Broadway show tune. The band supported Avenged Sevenfold with a co-headlining tour alongside Buckcherry. That tour just recently wrapped.
In addition to his work with Avenged Sevenfold, Sullivan also dabbled in a side project with A7X's Synyster Gates called Pinkly Smooth. Sullivan covered lead vocals and piano for the band who released their first and only album, Unfortunate Snort, in 2002, but Avenged Sevenfold had always been his priority.
Sullivan, who often served as spokesman for the band, was very open about his appetite for drugs. Although A7X had a reputation for indulging in the rock and roll lifestyle, it is said the group had cleaned up its image over the years.
Avenged Sevenfold have been working on their fifth studio album since coming off the road. The record is to have a more classic metal sound to it and could quite possibly be a concept record. Zacky Vengeance promises the new album will take its listeners on a "very dark journey." The Rev had already recorded his drumming sessions for the yet-to-be-released album. Whether or not his recordings will be included on the album remains to be seen.
Shortly after the news of The Rev's passing, Avenged Sevenfold released a statement expressing their grief at the loss of their friend and bandmate that read, "It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan. Jimmy was not only one of the world's best drummers, but more importantly, he was our best friend and brother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jimmy's family and we hope that you will respect their privacy during this difficult time. Jimmy you are forever in our hearts. We love you."
Also posted on the band's homepage was a message from Sullivan's family expressing their gratitude to his fans for their outpouring of support. "We would like to thank all of Jimmy's fans for the heartfelt comments that have been posted--it is comforting to know that his genius and antics were appreciated and that he was loved so much. Our hearts are broken--he was much too young to fall. Óg agus saor go deo (forever young and free)."
The Rev, Jimmy Sullivan, was an integral part of Avenged Sevenfold. His passing leaves nothing but questions as to where this band goes from here.
