Synyster Gates

I have many artists that I enjoy watching and listening to, but there are three main artists that I have always adored since I first listened to music and have also influenced me for the guitar. Here is my first Artist. This first musician has always been one of my idols, its Synyster Gates/ Brian Haner from Avenged Sevenfold.

Avenged Sevenfold Kerrang! interview after James' passing.

Avenged Sevenfold with James.

My first artist is Brain Elwin Haner Jr, also known as Synyster Gates the lead guitarist for a band called Avenged Sevenfold, Brian was born on the July 7 1981 making him 28 years old. He grew up in Lakewood but moved to Huntington Beach, California and attended Ocean View High School where he met James Owen Sulliven (Avenged Sevenfold's drummer) and the two became best friends. Brian studied jazz guitar at the Music Institute in Hollywood for six months before getting a call from James asking to join Avenged Sevenfold, Brian accepted and dropped his education as a studio musican and joined James, Matt (Vocals) Zack Baker (Guitar) and John Seward (Bass), the band took on the music industry releasing a debut album "Sounding the Seventh Trumpet" and then later released "Waking the Fallen", "City Of Evil" and "Avenged Sevenfold", the band then went on to headline festivals and concerts across the world including headlining the Download festival and the very first Sonisphere festival. Sortly after touring they announced to be writing a new album, the album was completed in december and ready for recording, but it was put on hold after a terrible passing of their drummer James, the band split up for three months after buring their beloved friend but got back together to release the album, it was titled "Nightmare" and Brian wrote "So Far Away" in honor of James included with a heart felt solo that puts a smile to the band and fans faces. Brian married his wife Michelle shortly after James' death where they had a minute silence for the best man that never showed up. Brian is also Number four in the top ten guitarists. The band are currently on tour with Stone Sour and be visiting the U.K on Halloween.

R.I.P James Owen "The Rev" Sulliven

February 9, 1981 – December 28, 2009