Avenged Sevenfold Drummer Dies in California

[five inch taint]

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The drummer with Avenged Sevenfold, a rising force in the heavy metal scene, died on Monday at his home in southern California, the group and authorities said.

James Owen Sullivan, nicknamed "The Rev," appeared to have died of natural causes, Huntington Beach police Lt. John Domingo told the Orange County Register. He was 28. The Orange County Coroner's Office is investigating, the paper said.

"It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan," the band said on its Web site. "Jimmy was not only one of the world's best drummers, but more importantly he was our best friend and brother."

Avenged Sevenfold, which Sullivan co-founded in 1999, hit No. 4 on the U.S. pop album chart in 2007 with its most recent album, a self-titled release that went on to ship more than 500,000 copies, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Sullivan contributed "A Little Piece of Heaven," a tongue-in-cheek, eight-minute paean to necrophilia and mass murder. The band shot an appropriately gruesome videoclip.

In recent years, Avenged Sevenfold tried to live down its reputation for debauchery. Sullivan, in particular, had raised eyebrows after a 2006 cover story in metal magazine Revolver described his penchant for cocaine and other drugs.

Inspired by such bands as Iron Maiden, Metallica and Guns N' Roses, the quintet built its musical reputation through heavy touring. It played Ozzy Osbourne's annual Ozzfest tour in 2006, and co-headlined a national trek with Buckcherry in 2008 and 2009. It recently announced plans to record a third studio album for Warner Music Group Corp.


http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=9439249

[Brandon Allin]

28 is far too young. My condolences to his family, friends, and the band.

R.I.P

[kianacarly]

28 and natural causes?

crazy

[xJesusFreakx]

That's so tragic. I've never really been a fan of the band, but my thoughts are with his friends, family, and band mates.

[Deadbolt23]

He wrote the best songs :(
So awful.

[Mosh]

as a drummer i looked up to him so much :[

R.I.P.

[ThisIsNotDan]

not a huge fan of the band, but good musicians definitely. very sad. RIP

[SofiaHxC]

He was way too young :( RIP

[kashleywitha_k]

jimmy was seriously the best drummer i know. i was lucky to see him live twice. this is tragic. music will never be the same.

[TangledUp]

Not a big A7X fan, but I used to like them.. at least one of their albums. He was certainly a talented drummer, and A7X are talented as a whole. RIP. :-(

[dom_182]

jimmy was seriously the best drummer i know. i was lucky to see him live twice. this is tragic. music will never be the same.

really?

[SophGod]

My favorite band of all time. my favorite drummer of all time. RIP Jimmy, you'll always be my favorite drummer.

[Corgkowznor]

dude was seriously awesome at the drums...rest in peace.

[Nettn07]

This is terrible. I like Avenged Sevenfold, and Jimmy was a great guy and a great drummer. RIP

[Car Crash Dream]

really?
not now dude.

[hells army]

that is some fucked up shit. they are one of my favorite bands and i will never forget the music and style the rev brought to
heavy metal.

[yellowhouse]

jimmy was seriously the best drummer i know. i was lucky to see him live twice. this is tragic. music will never be the same.

you know, it sucks that someone died and all, but that's a really bold statement.

[SwiftSilentDead]

I haven't thought or listened to Avenged Sevenfold in months but they used to be one of my favorite bands. This really shocked me when I heard it.

[ohheroine]

you know, it sucks that someone died and all, but that's a really bold statement.


music might not ever be the same to that person, alright? if a member of your favorite band just died i'm sure you might be just a little upset too and make some "bold statements". perfectly understandable to be upset.

[yellowhouse]

music might not ever be the same to that person, alright? if a member of your favorite band just died i'm sure you might be just a little upset too and make some "bold statements". perfectly understandable to be upset.

im not saying he shouldnt be upset at all, he definitely has a right to be. and, he didnt say that music wouldnt be the same to him. he just said music, period, as in music as a whole. big difference there.

im a dick, im sorry. i guess it doesnt really matter.

[_><_]

Terrible. RIP

[love_american_style]

dude was a drum tapper.

[TERRABITHIA]

Really does suck that he died. He looked like a cool dude. I was not a big A7X fan, but my prayers go to his family, friends, and bandmates. He just missed making the 27 club too :-(

[angiej27]

I still can't believe this :(

He was one of the best drummers ever

RIP

[KercoCosa]

Bad news. Too young.

A man I never met and never will meet changed my perspective on music dramatically.

RIP

[showmethefever]

jimmy was seriously the best drummer i know. i was lucky to see him live twice. this is tragic. music will never be the same.
That's taking it a little too far.

[SlappedActor]

28 and natural causes?

crazy

"Natural causes" can mean a ton of different things. All it really rules out is homicide, suicide, and accident (meaning car accident, work injury, etc).

[BryterJonah]

Bad news. Too young.

A man I never met and never will meet changed my perspective on music dramatically.

RIP

Sorry about that.

[SophGod]

Bad news. Too young.

A man I never met and never will meet changed my perspective on music dramatically.

RIP
i feel you, i would've given anything to meet him. he was my idol.

[kianacarly]

"Natural causes" can mean a ton of different things. All it really rules out is homicide, suicide, and accident (meaning car accident, work injury, etc).

Yeah, I suppose. Still crazy since he's so young. People can die young, obviously, but it's still always a bit unfortunate because usually the cause of death is something that could have been avoided.

[RescueMe26]

One of my favorite bands. It came to me as such a shock when i heard this. 28 was way to young. R.I.P Jimmy.

[Rodeo]

"Natural causes" can mean a ton of different things. All it really rules out is homicide, suicide, and accident (meaning car accident, work injury, etc).


Exactly.... heart seizure due to way too much fucking coke / heroin is still technically 'natural causes'..... medically at least.

[drudo182]

really?

LOL. Seriously. I thought the same thing.