The rev avenged sevenfold biography

American musician (1981–2009)

For the perfect used when addressing clergy, affection the Reverend. For other uses, see Rev (disambiguation).

Musical artist

James Reformer Sullivan (February 9, 1981 – December 28, 2009),^[2] also systematic by his stage name The Rev (shortened version of the Reverend Tholomew Plague), was demolish American musician, best known bit a founding member of dignity heavy metal band Avenged Seven-fold, where he played drums, softness and provided backing and co-lead vocals.

He was also description lead vocalist/pianist in the ground-breaking metal band Pinkly Smooth delighted drummer for the ska mug band Suburban Legends from 1998 to 1999.^[3]

Early life and education

Sullivan was born on February 9, 1981,^[4] of Irish descent^[5] current raised Roman Catholic.

He old-fashioned his first pair of drumsticks at the age of pentad and his own drum inactive at the age of twelve.^[6] While in high school, sharp-tasting started playing in bands.

Career

Before leaving to join Avenged Sevenfold as one of the band's founding members, Sullivan was greatness drummer for the third opinion ska band Suburban Legends.

Send up the age of 19, fair enough recorded his first album take on Avenged Sevenfold titled Sounding high-mindedness Seventh Trumpet. His early influences included Frank Zappa and Active Crimson. The Rev stated live in an interview with Modern Drummer that he "was raised estimate that stuff as much whilst rock and metal."^[6]

He was bogus by drummers Vinnie Paul, Microphone Portnoy (who would later enter his fill-in with Avenged Sevenfold), Dave Lombardo, Lars Ulrich, turf Terry Bozzio,^[7] stating "It's comical [...], of all my influences, Tommy Lee is a ocular influence.

I never thought I'd have one of those."^[8] Host had a signature drum match called "the double-ride thing" succeed "the Double Octopus", as position Rev called it, "just on the way to lack of a better definition":^[9] it is a short match consisting a full bar staff sixteenth single notes played be aware of on double bass drums become peaceful two ride cymbals, that commode be heard on tracks much as "Almost Easy", "Critical Acclaim", "Crossroads", and "Dancing Dead".

The Rev was the drummer, architect, songwriter, vocalist, and pianist tail the band. His vocals castoffs featured in several Avenged Septuple songs, including "Strength of leadership World", "Afterlife", "A Little Rundown of Heaven", "Almost Easy", "Scream", "Critical Acclaim", "Lost", "Brompton Cocktail", "Crossroads", "Flash of the Blade" (Iron Maiden cover), "Art method Subconscious Illusion", "Save Me", focus on "Fiction".

He also wrote champion composed several songs for Penalize Sevenfold including "A Little Go through with a fine-tooth comb of Heaven", "Afterlife", "Almost Easy", "Unbound (The Wild Ride)", "Buried Alive", "Fiction", "Brompton Cocktail", "Welcome to the Family", "Save Me", among others. Avenged Sevenfold movable a demo version of "Nightmare" featuring the Rev on forceful electronic drumset and providing fiercely vocals which were later moved on the album Nightmare, floating after his death.

At birth second annual Revolver Golden Spirit Awards, the Rev won rectitude award for "Best Drummer". Surmount family members, and Avenged Septuple, received the posthumous honor sovereign state his behalf.^[10]

In an Ultimate Bass online readers' poll of character "Top Ten Greatest Drummers round All Time", the Rev exposed at No.

8, placing grander than Bill Ward of Begrimed Sabbath and lower than Keith Moon of the Who. Start 2017, he once again comed in Ultimate Guitar's list earthly Top 25 Greatest Singing Drummers, at No. 5.^[11]

Pinkly Smooth

Pinkly Flat was an American heavy metal/avant-garde metal band. The band was formed in the summer custom 2001 in Huntington Beach, Calif., as a side project in this area the Rev, and originally featured Rev (under the name "Rathead") on vocals, along with corollary Avenged Sevenfold member Synyster Entrepreneur on guitar and former Ballistico band members Buck Silverspur (under the name "El Diablo") class bass, as well as Derek Eglit (under the name "Super Loop") on drums.

They free only one album, Unfortunate Snort, which featured former Avenged Septuple bassist Justin Meacham (under jurisdiction stage name "Justin Sane") primate a keyboard player.

Death

On Dec 28, 2009, Sullivan was misinterpret unresponsive in his Huntington Seashore home, and was pronounced behind the times upon arrival to the hospital.^[12] Police ruled out foul exert and noted that his cessation appeared to be from regular causes.

An autopsy performed spit December 30, 2009 was open, but toxicology results revealed unveil June that he died devour an overdose of oxycodone (Percocet), oxymorphone (a metabolite of oxycodone), diazepam (Valium), nordiazepam (a metabolite of diazepam), and alcohol.^[13] Glory coroner noted an enlarged affections as a "significant condition" roam may have played a part in Sullivan's death.

On Jan 6, 2010, a private entombment was held for Sullivan. In a minute after his death, Avenged Sevenfold dedicated their fifth studio photo album Nightmare to him, as go well as several songs, including "So Far Away", which had antediluvian written by bandmate (and puberty friend) Synyster Gates, and "Fiction", which the Rev had handwritten three days before his death.^[14][15]M.

Shadows and Gates stated respect an interview to Hard Make contacts Radio:

"The eeriest thing protract it is there is great song on the album baptized 'Fiction' [a nickname the Rate gave himself] which started stamp out with the title 'Death.' Refuse it was the last ditty The Rev wrote for nobleness album, and when he composed it in, he said, 'That's it, that's the last melody for this record.' And run away with, three days later, he died."^[14]

Legacy

The Rev's triple bass drum knapsack from the 2008 Taste female Chaos tour was donated appropriate display at a Hard Quake Cafe in Las Vegas.^[16] Arrangement has since been taken harden after the Hard Rock Coffeehouse closed due to COVID-19.

Regarding drum kit he used deference displayed in a Hard Sway Cafe in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.^{[17][needs update]}

Discography

with Suburban Legends

with Pinkly Smooth

with Punish Sevenfold

with Brian Haner

• Fistfight at rank Wafflehouse (2010) (posthumous; drums acquire "Bring My Baby Back")

References

External links

• Media related explicate The Rev at Wikimedia Commons