James Owen Sullivan, also known by his stage name The Rev, was a talented and popular musician who played drums, piano, and sang for the heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. He was also a founding member of the band, along with his childhood friends M. Shadows, Synyster Gates, and Zacky Vengeance. He was known for his fast and complex drumming style, his creative songwriting skills, and his humorous personality. He was widely regarded as one of the best drummers in the world, and influenced many other musicians in the genre.
However, on December 28, 2009, Sullivan was found dead in his home in Huntington Beach, California. He was only 28 years old. His death shocked and saddened his fans, his bandmates, and the music industry. What caused his untimely demise? How did he live his life as a rock star? And what legacy did he leave behind? In this article, we will explore these questions and more.
The Official Cause of Death
According to the Orange County deputy coroner Mitchell Sigal, Sullivan was found “unresponsive” in his home by his wife Leana MacFadden around 1 p.m. on December 28, 2009. Police ruled out foul play and noted that his death appeared to be from natural causes. An autopsy performed on December 30, 2009, was inconclusive, but toxicology results revealed to the public in June that he died from an overdose of oxycodone (Percocet), oxymorphone (a metabolite of oxycodone), diazepam (Valium), nordiazepam (a metabolite of diazepam), and alcohol. The coroner’s office stated that the drugs were prescribed for Sullivan’s back pain and anxiety, but that he had taken them in excess of the prescribed dosage. The coroner’s office also ruled his death as accidental.
The Life of a Rock Star
Sullivan was born on February 9, 1981, in Huntington Beach, California. He was of Irish descent and raised Roman Catholic. He received his first pair of drumsticks at the age of five and his own drum set at the age of twelve. In high school, he started playing in bands. Before leaving to join Avenged Sevenfold as one of the band’s founding members, Sullivan was the drummer for the third wave ska band Suburban Legends from 1998 to 1999.
Sullivan was the drummer, composer, songwriter, vocalist, and pianist for Avenged Sevenfold. His vocals are featured in several Avenged Sevenfold songs, including “Strength of the World”, “Afterlife”, “A Little Piece 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 and composed several songs for Avenged Sevenfold including “A Little Piece of Heaven”, “Afterlife”, “Almost Easy”, “Unbound (The Wild Ride)”, “Buried Alive”, “Fiction”, “Brompton Cocktail”, “Welcome to the Family”, “Save Me”, among others.
He had a signature ability called “the double-ride thing” or “the Double Octopus”, as he called it, “just for lack of a better definition.” This is a technique that can be heard on tracks such as “Almost Easy”, “Critical Acclaim”, “Crossroads”, and “Dancing Dead”, in which Sullivan doubles up at a fast tempo between the double bass and ride cymbals.
His early influences included Frank Zappa and King Crimson. He stated in an interview with Modern Drummer that he “was raised on that stuff as much as rock and metal.” Later in life, he was influenced by drummers Vinnie Paul, Mike Portnoy (who would later be his fill-in with Avenged Sevenfold), Dave Lombardo, Lars Ulrich, and Terry Bozzio. He also said that Tommy Lee was a visual influence for him.
Sullivan was also the lead vocalist/pianist in the avant-garde metal band Pinkly Smooth with fellow Avenged Sevenfold member Synyster Gates on guitar. The band released one album called Unfortunate Snort in 2002.
Sullivan had a tattoo of the word “fiction” on his chest, which he got after writing the song of the same name for Avenged Sevenfold’s fifth album Nightmare. The song was originally titled “Death” and was the last song he wrote and recorded with the band before his death. The song features his vocals and piano playing, and is considered by many fans as his farewell message. The song was later renamed “Fiction” by his bandmates as a tribute to him and his tattoo.
Sullivan was married to Leana MacFadden, also known as Leana Silver, a model and jewelry designer. They met in 2007 and got married in 2009. They had no children.
Sullivan was known for his outgoing and funny personality, often making jokes and pranks on stage and off. He was also a generous and caring person, who supported various charities and causes, such as the MusiCares Foundation, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Rockstar Energy Drink UPROAR Festival’s Child Find of America program.
The Legacy of The Rev
Sullivan’s death left a huge impact on his fans, his bandmates, and the music industry. His funeral was held on January 6, 2010, at the Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Huntington Beach. It was attended by hundreds of people, including his family, friends, and fellow musicians. His coffin was adorned with white roses and a pair of drumsticks. His bandmates delivered emotional speeches and eulogies, honoring his memory and legacy.
Avenged Sevenfold dedicated their fifth album Nightmare to Sullivan, and featured his drum tracks on most of the songs. The album was released on July 27, 2010, and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. It also received critical acclaim and several awards, including the Kerrang! Award for Best Album in 2011.
The band also released a documentary called All Excess in 2007, which features behind-the-scenes footage of Sullivan’s life and career with Avenged Sevenfold.
The band continued to pay tribute to Sullivan in their subsequent albums, songs, and tours. They also created a memorial website for him called foREVer, where fans can share their memories and condolences.
Sullivan was posthumously awarded the Revolver Golden God Award for Best Drummer in 2010 and 2011. He was also inducted into the Hollywood RockWalk in 2013 along with his bandmates .
Sullivan is widely regarded as one of the greatest drummers of all time, and has inspired many other musicians and fans around the world. His music, his style, his spirit, and his legacy will live on forever.
