Real Name - Brain Elwin Haner JR.
Birthdate - July 7, 1981 [6'0"]
Lead Guitar and Backing Vocals
Piercings - Ears and nose
Favorite Color - Purple
Has a brother Brent and sister McKenna
Synyster joined Avenged Sevenfold in 1999, before the release of the band's first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. He was featured on their EP Warmness on the Soul, and on the reissue of their first album, only playing on one song, the heavy metal version of "To End The Rapture". His father, Brian Haner Sr, is a musician and often is called Avenged Sevenfold's official acoustic guitar player for his appearances on their CDs. He attended the Musicians Institute in Hollywood, California as part of the GIT program, and studied Jazz guitar, citing Django Reinhardt, Adam Aparicio and Roddy are his favorite as a major influence.
Synyster was also a member of the band Pinkly Smooth, a side project with The Rev (Avenged Sevenfold's drummer), along side former bassist of Avenged Sevenfold Justin Sane (not to be confused with Justin Sane from Anti-Flag). Pinkly Smooth was disbanded because Gates and The Rev wished to focus full time on Avenged Sevenfold, although when asked recently, The Rev and Syn both said that there was a new side project being planned, featuring the two playing older Pinkly Smooth songs. Synyster also has newly released a clothing line called Syn Gates Clothing.
He has been sponsored by Schecter Guitar Research since 2004, and has custom Avenger models out.
+++++EQUIPMENT+++++
GUITARS
SCHECTER AVENGER
C-1 FR
MOST, IF NOT ALL, OF SYN'S AVENGERS ARE CUSTOM MADE.
GIBSON - LES PAUL
PARKER GUITARS
IBANEZ - RG PRESTIGE
SYN NORMALLY USES SEYMOUR DUNCAN SH-8 PICKUPS IN HIS GUITARS.
AMPLIFIERS
KRANK REVOLUTION HEAD
BOGNER UBERSCHALL AND CAVEMAN (MAIN)
MESA/BOOGIE DUAL RECTIFIER
SPEAKERS
MARSHALL 4"X12" CAB
BOGNER UBERKAB 4"X12" AND STANDARD BOGNER 4"X12" (MAIN)
MESA/BOOGIE 4"X12" DUAL RECTO CABINET
KRANK REVOLUTION 4"X12"
ACCESSORIES
ERNIE BALL SKINNY TOP, HEAVY BOTTOM STRINGS
JIM DUNLOP GATOR GRIP 2.00MM PICKS IN CUSTOM BLACK WITH "DEATHBAT" LOGO.
VOODOO LABS GCX GUITAR AUDIO SWITCHER RACK UNIT
VOODOO LABS DMC GROUND CONTROL PRO
Real Name - Matthew Charles Sanders
Birthdate - July 31, 1981 [6'1"]
Vocals
Piercings - Both ears and lip
Sanders has had minor surgery to repair a vocal strain; he has, however, spoken out on numerous occasions to dispute claims that surgery was responsible for the band's change in musical style. The vocal strain was caused by his large amount of screaming in the first album Sounding the Seventh Trumpet.
Some of his biggest musical influences are Guns N Roses, Metallica, Megadeth, and Pantera. Philip Anselmo of Pantera is his screaming inspiration. He was formerly a member of a punk band, called 'Successful Failure'. While in this band he penned the song Streets, which would later be recorded after Avenged Sevenfold was formed, and released on their first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet.
Sanders feels a strong support for the troops serving the United States, having very close friends who are currently in service. The song "M.I.A." or standing for "Missing in Action" was written in tribute to these friends. Before he performed the song at most shows, however, Shadows stresses that Avenged Sevenfold is not a political band and that they do not intend to become one.
Real Name - Zackary James Baker
Birthdate - December 11, 1981 [5'9"]
Rhythm Guitar and Backing Vocals
Piercings - Both ears, septum and lip
Baker has played guitar since he was thirteen years old, and is self taught . At one time played in a punk band called MPA*. He and M. Shadows (the band's lead vocalist) formed Avenged Sevenfold when they were in high school.
Vengeance has stated that there are many bands that influence him. "I still love the heavy bands. I love... Danny Elfman and Elvis Costello. [It's] all over the place - I think that's the best way to be."
Vengeance is also known for his outlandish hairstyles like purple and blonde. He has had several different looks since the band formed (with its current lineup) in 1999. He has been known to wear oversized sunglasses and Misfits t-shirts, his popular Jack Daniels t-shirt, as well as shirts from movies.
Vengeance released a clothing line called "Zacky V. Presents..." on December 19, 2005. The current design features the popular "Vengeance University" logo, which Zacky designed himself. The line currently features t-shirts and belt buckles, featuring his trademark "Est. 6661" tagline on it.
Venegeance has been sponsored by Schecter Guitar Research since 2004, and has custom S-1 models out. He uses Seymour Duncan Pickups in all of his guitars and is currently a featured artist on the company's website along with Johnny Christ and Synyster Gates. Vengeance is of Italian and German descent.
+++++EQUIPMENT+++++
SCHECTER GUITARS
S-1
S-1 ELITE
S-1 BLACKJACK
VENGEANCE CUSTOM (CUSTOM S-1 W/6661 LOGO AT THE BRIDGE)
VENGEANCE CUSTOM (CUSTOM SILVER S-1 W/ 'A7X' INLAY)
CUSTOM "GYNECOLOGIST" WHITE W/ BLOOD SPLATTER S-1 ELITE)
CUSTOM "GYNECOLOGIST" BLACK W/ BLOOD SPLATTER S-1 ELITE)
*ALSO USES A NUMBER OF OTHER CUSTOM S-1 MODELS.
AMPLIFIERS
BOGNER UBERSHALL HEAD
MESA BOOGIE
SPEAKERS
BOGNER 4"X12" CABINET
EFFECTS UNITS AND ACCESSORIES
BOSS NS-2 NOISE SUPRESSOR
BOSS RV-5 REVERB
BOSS TU-2 CHROMATIC TUNER
ERINIE BALL SKINNY TOP, HEAVY BOTTOM STRINGS
Real Name - Jonathan Lewis Seward
Birthdate - November 18, 1984 [5'4"]
Bass and Backing Vocals
Piercings - Ears and nose
He is the third bassist for Avenged Sevenfold, following the departures of Dameon Ash and Justin Sane. Christ is known for his mohawk hairstyle, which has recently been shaved. Occasionally, he is seen wearing a cowboy hat. He is the youngest and shortest member of the band, standing at exactly 5'4". Christ plays an Ernie Ball Music Man Sterling Bass.
+++++EQUIPMENT+++++
ERNIE BALL MUSICMAN STERLING BASS
SEYMOUR DUNCAN PICKUPS
GALLIEN KRUEGER 412 NEO CAB
GALLIEN KRUIGER 2001 RB HEAD
ERNIE BALL 2831 POWER SLINKY BASS
STRINGS
*USES DISTORTION FROM GALLIEN KRUEGER 2001 RB HEAD
Real Name - James "Jimmy" Owen Sullivan
Birthdate - February 10, 1981 [6'4"]
Drummer and Backing Vocals
Piercings - Lip and cartilage
Sullivan is the oldest member of the group. He is most known for his drumming abilities and his cowlick hairstyle.Sullivan attended a Catholic school with M. Shadows. His first record was released at the age of eighteen.
The Rev has a side project with Avenged Sevenfold guitarist Synyster Gates, and members from surf-punk band Ballistico, called Pinkly Smooth, in which he sings, and although not credited, recorded drums. His stage name in the band is 'Rat Head'.
He was also formerly the drummer for third-wave ska band Suburban Legends, along with former Avenged Sevenfold bassist Justin Sane.
Two of his favorite bands are Rancid and The Transplants. Sullivan cites his influences as being Vinnie Paul of Pantera, Dave Lambardo and Paul Bostaph of Slayer, and Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater.
The Rev uses and is sponsored by DW Drums, although he appears in advertisements for DW's budget company, PDP. He is also sponsored by Sabian cymbols, Pro-Mark sticks and Evans drum heads.
He is currently engaged to Leana Silver, despite the rumors that he got married in October of 2006.
+++++EQUIPMENT+++++
DW DRUMS
DW MAPLE SHELLS WITH WHITE LACQUER FINISH
22"X18" BASS
8"X8", 10"X9", 12"X10" RACK TOMS
14"X12", 16"X14" FLOOR TOMS
14"X4" MAPLE SNARE
HARDWARE
DW 9000 SERIES WITH ALL BOOM STANDS AND 5000 SERIES PEDALS
CYMBALS
SABIAN 14"AA METAL-X HI-HATS, 7" MAX-STAX, 11" MAX-STAX, 19"AA METAL X CRASH, 22" AA METAL-X RIDE, 19" AA METAL-X CHINA
*PRO-MARK 5B "THE NATURAL" MAPLE DRUMSTICKS
*EVAN HEADS
