Avenged Sevenfold

Members

  • M Shadows (Matt Sanders) - Vocals
  • Synyster Gates (Brian Haner Jr) - Lead Guitar
  • Zacky Vengeance (Zacky Baker) - Rhythm Guitar
  • Johnny Christ (Johnny Seward) - Bass Guitar
  • The Rev (Jimmy Sullivan) - Drums

Former members

  • Justin Sane (1999-2001) — Bass guitar (not to be confused with Justin Sane of Anti-Flag)
  • Daemon Ash (2001-2002) — Bass guitar

History

Avenged Sevenfold was formed in 1999 with front man M Shadows (Matt Sanders) and his friends: The Rev (Jimmy Sullivan) and Zacky Vengeance (Zacky Baker) and originally Matt on bass. They recorded Sounding The Seventh Trumpet originally on Goodlife Recordings, the CD was released in July of 2001. The bass player on Sounding The Seventh Trumpet is Justin Sane even though Dameon Ash is listed as the bass player in the CD jacket.

Justin Sane was removed from the line up before the recording of the second album and then attempted suicide by drinking a lot of cough syrup. His actions led to Avenged taking part in the "Take Action" tour which is used to promote helping people who may be suicidal.

Synyster Gates was asked to join the band to even out their sound and since they were all best friends, he joined the group.

In 2002 the band replaced Dameon Ash with current bassist, Johnny Christ, whom they met through Zacky's younger brother: Matt. That year they also re-released Sounding The Seventh Trumpet on Hopeless

The year 2003 saw the release of the band's second full length album: Waking The Fallen which sold 175,000 copies in the USA and reached number 12 on the Independent Album Chart.

City Of Evil, the band's third full length CD was released in July of 2005. It reached a peak of #30 on the US Billboard Chart and sold 730,000 copies in the USA

Avenged Sevenfold played on Warped Tour for four straight years (2002, '03, '04 and '05) before playing Ozzfest in the summer of 2006 as a follow up to their tour with Coheed and Cambria that spring. On Ozzfest and while on tour in Europe with bands like Metalica, as well as their most recent USA and Canadian tour (named: Great White Cities of the North Tour) they played “Walk” originally by Pantera in tribute to the late and great Darrel “Dimebag” Lance Abbott.

The band's name is a reference to the book of Genesis in the Bible and the story of Cain and Abel, where Cain is punished to live in exile, alone and miserable. Anyone who relieved Cain of his misery by killing him would have "vengeance taken upon him sevenfold."

Despite obvious religious names and references, M Shadow's adamantly says that the band isn't very religious or trying to shove religious or politic beliefs onto anyone.

Over the course of their career, their style has changed from metal core to a more alternative form of metal. Rumours have been spread that it was because of a throat surgery led on by internal bleeding, that the singing styles have changed. However, in recent statements and interviews, the band denies the rumours, saying that M Shadows can still scream as well as he could and that they are simply trying out new styles and evolving as a band and singing was one of those styles.

The band have an incredible range of styles, from melodic singing, to screaming; as well as hardcore riffs and storming drum beats.

Their influences come from Pantera, NOFX, Misfits, Dream Theater, Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Mr. Bungle, Iron Maiden.

At the MTV Music Awards 2006 Avenged Sevenfold won Best New Artist, beating out Panic At The Disco, Angels and Airwaves, Chris Brown, Rihanna, and James Blunt.