The Rev (born James ‘Jimmy’ Owen Sullivan on February 10, 1981) in Huntington Beach, California) ,short for The Reverend Tholomew Plague, is the drummer and backing vocalist of Avenged Sevenfold. He is also a vocalist and played the piano in the Avant-garde metal side-project Pinkly Smooth, his name in that band was first Rat Head.
Biography
Jimmy attended a Catholic school with M. Shadows, and was expelled in the 3rd grade. James was also expelled from Huntington Beach High School in 2000, and was then expelled from the reform school resulting in his dropping out. He was in and out of homes as a teenager living in his car and at a laundromat where he worked. At one time he lived with Synyster Gates, where Papa Gates has said Jimmy is eccentric to a nearly dangerous level and is the most natural musician he has ever met. His first record was released with the band Suburban Legends at the age of 18.
He was also formerly the drummer for third-wave ska band Suburban Legends, and vocalist for Avenged Sevenfold side project Pinkly Smooth. The Rev took part in the band Ballistico as their guitarist and vocalist. On the Avenged Sevenfold DVD, All Excess, while discussing how each member got their stage names, it was stated that Sullivan attained his name via a shortened version of The Reverend Tholomew Plague. The decision was seemingly random, as there were no specific reasons stated as to the inspiration for the name. He had a tendency to wear eccentric outfits such as outrageously colored kimonos or bath robes, baggy shorts, and fluorescent socks. In the DVD, he was said to terrorize people on his campus while wearing the eccentric outfits , and rode around in a golf cart.[1]
Jimmy has been to jail several times in his life, mainly for fighting, which he claims to have given up forever now. When he was 15 years old, he and a friend were caught stealing from an electronics store and then fled from the cops, they were both caught and were charged with armed robbery but plea bargained, he does not recommend fighting, stealing or fleeing from cops.
Jimmy is engaged to Leana Silver (Macfadden, she starts to use Silver, as a tribute to her most fave authors, Sid & Nancy Silver) and as a tribute to her got her name tattooed on his ring finger.
One of his favorite tattoos is the word ‘FICTION’ down his sternum.
Some of his favorite bands are Rancid, The Transplants, and Slayer.. Sullivan cites his influences as being Vinnie Paul of Pantera, Dave Lombardo and Paul Bostaph of Slayer, Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater, Steely Dan, and Terry Bozzio.
Jimmy uses and is sponsored by DW Drums, although he appears in advertisements for DW’s budget company, PDP, his old tour set was a PDP. He is also sponsored by Sabian cymbals, Pro-Mark sticks and Evans drum heads.
Recognized for vocals and piano in side project Pinkly Smooth, Sullivan is utilized as a back-up vocalist in Avenged Sevenfold. Besides screaming with M. Shadows in songs Chapter Four and Eternal Rest, the single from the band’s eponymous album, Critical Acclaim features Sullivan at lead vocals during the chorus of the song, both singing and screaming. His vocals are also featured in other songs from the Avenged Sevenfold eponymous album.
The Rev is featured singing in the songs he wrote, “A Little Piece of Heaven”, “Brompton Cocktail”, “Afterlife”, “Almost Easy”. He also sang in songs he co-wrote such as, “Critical Acclaim”, “Scream” and “Lost”. All of which are from the eponymous album.