This upcoming December will mark 13 years since the late Avenged Sevenfold drummer, Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, passed away. As one of the band’s original members, the late Avenged sevenfold drummer was a remarkable force of creativity. Jimmy helped to create the first four Avenged Sevenfold studio albums, while posthumously appearing on the band’s fifth album, Nightmare.
In a recent interview via the podcast One Life One Chance, Avenged Sevenfold singer M. Shadows spoke to losing his friend and saying he has asked himself, “Could I have done more, should I have done more?”
The subject of the late Avenged Sevenfold drummer comes up in the interview when the Avenged Sevenfold singer is asked if he has any regrets. This is what M. Shadows had to say:
“I tried so hard to save Jimmy from himself. But, when someone dies, it’s a human thing to do where you go, ‘Could I have done more, should I have done more?’
“I don’t think we actually could have, or we could have. We were putting him in the right facilities and trying to watch him… but he got away from us one night. And, then THAT happened.
“But, if you had to go back, well MAYBE that night I would’ve hung out with him. Cuz I remember we left a party. That’s the only thing in my life where I think wow – life could’ve been way different – THAT friend could’ve still been here. But, everything is going to play out how it’s going to play out, and you can’t drive yourself nuts over it.”
Losing The Rev was not only devastating for the band, but for that of the metal community as a whole. To this day, the metal community fondly thinks of Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan and hopes he is at peace.
If you want to hear M. Shadows’ words for yourself, you can find his interview below with the One Life One Chance podcast (the conversation about Jimmy comes up around the one hour and 48 minute mark).
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Words by: Michael Pementel