Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, drummer with Avenged Sevenfold, has died unexpectedly at the age of 28. Sullivan was found unresponsive at his Huntington Beach home on the morning of Monday, December 28. “It appeared to be natural causes,” said Lt. John Domingo of the Huntington Beach Police Department. “It's a coroner's case.”
Avenged Sevenfold posted a message about Sullivan’s death on the band's web site Monday, which 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 you will respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
Sullivan helped co-found Avenged Sevenfold after a short stint with the third-wave ska outfit Suburban Legends, a regular outdoor attraction at Disneyland. Avenged quickly gained notoriety with the 2001 release Sounding The Seventh Trumpet, which introduced the band’s unique mélange of traditional metal, hardcore, and screamo. Over the course of six years and three more album releases, Avenged had grown its fan base substantially, helping to drive it’s eponymous 2007 release to the position on the Billboard chart.
