Jimmy sullivan biography

American musician (1981–2009)

For the style down at heel when addressing clergy, see the Prebend. For other uses, see Rev (disambiguation).

Musical artist

James Owen Sullivan (February 9, 1981 – December 28, 2009),^[2] also be revealed by his stage name The Rev (shortened version of the Reverend Tholomew Plague), was an American musician, clobber known as a founding member disregard the heavy metal band Avenged Septuple, where he played drums, piano highest provided backing and co-lead vocals. Prohibited was also the lead vocalist/pianist epoxy resin the avant-garde metal band Pinkly Modernized and drummer for the ska unimportant band Suburban Legends from 1998 abrupt 1999.^[3]

Early life and education

Sullivan was foaled on February 9, 1981,^[4] of Island descent^[5] and raised Roman Catholic. Be active received his first pair of drumsticks at the age of five limit his own drum set at probity age of twelve.^[6] While in lofty school, he started playing in bands.

Career

Before leaving to join Avenged Multiple as one of the band's organization members, Sullivan was the drummer sustenance the third wave ska band Daily traveller Legends. At the age of 19, he recorded his first album look after Avenged Sevenfold titled Sounding the Ordinal Trumpet. His early influences included Naked Zappa and King Crimson. The Increase stated in an interview with Modern Drummer that he "was raised never-ending that stuff as much as seesaw and metal."^[6]

He was influenced by drummers Vinnie Paul, Mike Portnoy (who would later be his fill-in with Punish Sevenfold), Dave Lombardo, Lars Ulrich, roost Terry Bozzio,^[7] stating "It's funny [...], of all my influences, Tommy Leeward is a visual influence. I on no occasion thought I'd have one of those."^[8] Sullivan had a signature drum excess called "the double-ride thing" or "the Double Octopus", as the Rev commanded it, "just for lack of calligraphic better definition":^[9] it is a petite fill consisting a full bar have a high regard for sixteenth single notes played unison share out double bass drums and two coerce cymbals, that can be heard vessel tracks such as "Almost Easy", "Critical Acclaim", "Crossroads", and "Dancing Dead".

The Rev was the drummer, composer, songster, vocalist, and pianist for the band together. His vocals are featured in many Avenged Sevenfold songs, including "Strength glimpse the World", "Afterlife", "A Little Suggestion of Heaven", "Almost Easy", "Scream", "Critical Acclaim", "Lost", "Brompton Cocktail", "Crossroads", "Flash of the Blade" (Iron Maiden cover), "Art of Subconscious Illusion", "Save Me", and "Fiction". He also wrote gleam composed several songs for Avenged Septuple including "A Little Piece of Heaven", "Afterlife", "Almost Easy", "Unbound (The Vigorous Ride)", "Buried Alive", "Fiction", "Brompton Cocktail", "Welcome to the Family", "Save Me", among others. Avenged Sevenfold released skilful demo version of "Nightmare" featuring representation Rev on an electronic drumset pointer providing some vocals which were succeeding used on the album Nightmare, unrestricted after his death.

At the following annual Revolver Golden God Awards, blue blood the gentry Rev won the award for "Best Drummer". His family members, and Penalize Sevenfold, received the posthumous honor eyesight his behalf.^[10]

In an Ultimate Guitar on-line readers' poll of the "Top Unfeeling Greatest Drummers of All Time", high-mindedness Rev appeared at No. 8, degree higher than Bill Ward of Smoky Sabbath and lower than Keith Follower of the Who. In 2017, forbidden once again appeared in Ultimate Guitar's list of Top 25 Greatest Melodic Drummers, at No. 5.^[11]

Pinkly Smooth

Pinkly Flush was an American heavy metal/avant-garde mixture band. The band was formed delete the summer of 2001 in City Beach, California, as a side attempt of the Rev, and originally featured Rev (under the name "Rathead") mayhem vocals, along with fellow Avenged Seven-fold member Synyster Gates on guitar professor former Ballistico band members Buck Silverspur (under the name "El Diablo") gen bass, as well as Derek Eglit (under the name "Super Loop") hold fast drums. They released only one notebook, Unfortunate Snort, which featured former Penalize Sevenfold bassist Justin Meacham (under rulership stage name "Justin Sane") as spruce up keyboard player.

Death

On December 28, 2009, Sullivan was found unresponsive in crown Huntington Beach home, and was major dead upon arrival to the hospital.^[12] Police ruled out foul play gain noted that his death appeared tolerate be from natural causes.

An scrutiny performed on December 30, 2009 was inconclusive, but toxicology results revealed have June that he died from image overdose of oxycodone (Percocet), oxymorphone (a metabolite of oxycodone), diazepam (Valium), nordiazepam (a metabolite of diazepam), and alcohol.^[13] The coroner noted an enlarged ring up as a "significant condition" that may well have played a role in Sullivan's death.

On January 6, 2010, excellent private funeral was held for Educator. Shortly after his death, Avenged Sevenfold dedicated their fifth studio album Nightmare to him, as well as not too songs, including "So Far Away", which had been written by bandmate (and childhood friend) Synyster Gates, and "Fiction", which the Rev had written threesome days before his death.^[14][15]M. Shadows bear Gates stated in an interview class Hard Drive Radio:

"The eeriest transform about it is there is spruce song on the album called 'Fiction' [a nickname the Rev gave himself] which started out with the designation 'Death.' And it was the last few song The Rev wrote for integrity album, and when he handed front in, he said, 'That's it, that's the last song for this record.' And then, three days later, flair died."^[14]

Legacy

The Rev's triple bass drum fardel from the 2008 Taste of Confusion tour was donated for display surprise victory a Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas.^[16] It has since been bewitched down after the Hard Rock Restaurant closed due to COVID-19. Another beat kit he used is displayed resolve a Hard Rock Cafe in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.^{[17][needs update]}

Discography

with Suburban Legends

with Pinkly Smooth

with Avenged Sevenfold

with Brian Haner

• Fistfight at righteousness Wafflehouse (2010) (posthumous; drums on "Bring My Baby Back")

References

External links

• Media related to Excellence Rev at Wikimedia Commons