A7X’s The Rev dead at 28
Avenged Sevenfold’s drummer, Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, was found dead at age 28 at his home in Huntington Beach, California, on Monday. He supposedly died of natural causes, though his death was investigated by the coroner’s office and ruled “inconclusive.”
Avenged Sevenfold is rather divisive in the metal community, mainly for its early “metalcore” output. Honestly, the band got better as they went on, especially when M. Shadows stopped screaming. It was pretty damned irritating. As I pointed out in my review of their last album, The Rev was the main reason to listen to A7X, so it’s a great loss not only to band on the upswing but also to music fans in general considering how talented a drummer he was. Apparently he was also a great songwriter, having written the multi-part “A Little Piece of Heaven” from their last album.
It’s a shame, really.
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Greetings. I'm originally from Milwaukee, WI, but currently living in Madison. I earned a poli-sci degree from UW-Madison in December 2008 and now trying to figure out what to do...
Anyhow I'm an aspiring music critic, having been published in the Badger Herald (UW's premier student paper) and the London-based blog The Line of Best Fit.
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December 30th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
It’s a shame?!
Sorry but that sounds really fucking heartless.
December 30th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
It’s not heartless, it is a shame because no 28 year old just dies like that, drugs drugs drugs
December 30th, 2009 at 10:28 pm
FUCK FUCK NOT THE REV THIS IS SUCH A TERRIBLE LOSS A7X WILL NEVER BE THE SAME….RIP JIMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
December 30th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
When a drummer dies… the heartbeat of the band dies…
They were an amazing band to see live.
December 31st, 2009 at 8:59 am
my dick can touch my ass.
December 31st, 2009 at 12:30 pm
im sad he died, he was awesome… but i kinda hope they find a new drummer like metalica and their bassist or ac/dc and their singer
December 31st, 2009 at 9:25 pm
It is sad. Just because a person does drugs does not mean they are a terrible person. What if your son or brother did drugs would you be sad or depressed if they died at the age of 18… yeah you would. So just leave it alone and stop being jerks about it.
January 1st, 2010 at 4:16 am
fuck all of you except steven the rev will be remembered as a great drummer and man.not no drugy
January 1st, 2010 at 2:38 pm
I cried for 6 hours strait when I found out. :/ I love this band.
R.i.p. James Owen Sullivan. <3
Long live A7X!
January 1st, 2010 at 11:26 pm
I saw them live in Montreal in 2008. They are awesome ! This is by far my best band ! The Rev was so good on Waking the Fallen and City of Evil ! R.I.P. !! I just hope the band can find somebody as talented as he was…. But the bar is set high, very high… A7X 4 life
January 2nd, 2010 at 10:42 pm
Dam he was a great man but lady gaygay is a man to so no one wins whin a Trazy ho is that popoular + t pain can’t sing auto tune my ass
January 4th, 2010 at 11:54 am
Th Rev was the greastest so fuck you if you think its not a shame!
January 4th, 2010 at 10:57 pm
Omfg. You cant be serious. The Rev was my all time favorite drummer, holy shit… omg i might cry The Rev was sooo amazing. A7X is nothing wihtout the Rev.
January 5th, 2010 at 1:31 am
when I heard about this. I was devistated. the revs drumming is iconic. but listen you little shit, you call their old stuff irritating? fuck you - you ignorant douche! mathew’s screaming was incredable. I wish it were still a part of their music. unfortunately it can’t
but before you call his voice irritating, remember there are die hard a7x fans who have loved them from the start.
January 20th, 2010 at 10:58 pm
Yah i agree with Lauren that sounded really fucking heartless.. Not heart felt at all.
January 22nd, 2010 at 10:02 am
Oh fuck, not te rev!! I cried forever when I found this out! The Rev is Awsome I love a7x!! R.I.P The Rev…You will NEVER be Forgotten…”Seize The Day” We Love You!
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:57 pm
It’s a shame? What the hell? He was an amazing drummer and A7X is one of my favorite bands. I’ve listened to them for 10 years and the Rev deserves more than “its a shame, really” If you don’t care for their music or the band why bother to write about the death of an amazing drummer. I didn’t cry when I found out he died, even though it was a kick in the gut that I did not expect. I didn’t know him, but the music was and is awesome and got me through alot. A7X has always made a statement with their music. I hope they continue too, even with this loss. The most creative people are the ones with the most demons.
January 29th, 2010 at 3:55 am
i’m so sad,why you go now,,,,,,
i can’t believe,,,
selamat jalan ‘the rev’
aku mendoakan mu……….
you ara the best drummer….
January 30th, 2010 at 1:40 pm
i agree with steven so what if drugs was involved it doesnt make a difference. He died and everyone needs to show some fucking respect
February 3rd, 2010 at 1:12 am
AVENGED SEVENFOLD BUBARKAN,BILA TAK ADA THE REVS
February 19th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
First, RIP Rev, you were amazing and went too soon.
Secondly, to the author of the article, you’re a fucking moron. Anyone with half a brain, no, make that an eigth of a brain, should know Avenged Sevenfold became significantly worse when their vocalist was forced to stop his “irritating screaming.” To diehard fans of the genre his voice in Waking the Fallen is quite possibly the pinnacle of the type of vocal performance bands like Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, etc. strive to accomplish.
I hate A7X post-Waking, but thats not the point. The point is, to say he had an irritating scream is nothing but a shining example of your insane ignorance. You’re an idiot with a really poor ear for good metal.
February 26th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
I cried when i found ou thee rev had died and hadnt done that for 4 years. He will never be replaced even by mike portnoy. The best drummer who ever lived. RIP jimmy!!!
may A7x’s last album be amazing.
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:11 pm
the rev was and is fuckin awsome so is a7x. matt vocal is great syn is great zacky is great johnny is great jimmy is, was great so that means one thang thats a great fuckin band there will be no replacment for the rev so they dont need to waste there time tring to find one
March 22nd, 2010 at 11:21 pm
i am a die hard a7x fan but all great bands have a death
example, skynerd , cobain, metallica,lynn strait, sublime,now avenged sevenfold thats the worst shit to ever happen god rest there souls, much love to the fallen rock stars
April 19th, 2010 at 10:22 am
carleyvengeance is a wanker!
May 22nd, 2010 at 2:49 pm
They need 2 make a A7X t-shirt.With r.i.p the rev and then
1981,2009.I would so buy it……
May 27th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
when i found out that the rev died my heart was fuckin broken nd he was my favorite drummer everrrrrrrrr
June 6th, 2010 at 3:24 am
The Rev…,R.I.P, he is my Icon. A7X wil nevr be da sme.
June 6th, 2010 at 3:24 am
The Rev…,R.I.P, he is my Icon. A7X wil nt be da sme witout The Rev.
June 6th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Sorry, Danni, but I don’t think Metallica’s drummer, Lars Ulrich, could pull off the shit the rev did. Don’t get me wrong, Lars is insane, but, I’m just saying.
June 8th, 2010 at 9:48 am
Listen, you can love A7X, don’t give a shit about them, or hate them, but please, a little respect for our beloved Jimmy. It still isn’t sure what his cause of death was, but you can’t say it was drugs. It probably was a natural cause. And can we remember Jimmy, not for his death,or the times he was stoned or drunk, but for his brilliant contributions to the music by both A7X and Pinkly Smooth? And, not in the last place, for the fact that he was a very nice guy and a very funny person, too? I loved the guy for his music, and I still do, and I’m not the only one, and the best way we can thank him for existing and doing all the amazing shit he’s done is by rememebering him foREVer. The fucking best drummer that ever lived and a wonderful person. We’ll miss him and his music and, well, let’s hope to meet him in Afterlife ^^ Thanks, man, and rest in peace. Love ya.
July 20th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
rip the rev