M Shadows still has Rev’s number in his phone

avenged sevenfold featuring jimmy 'the rev' sullivan
Never forgotten: Sullivan, right, with A7X

M Shadows has revealed that he’s kept late Avenged Sevenfold bandmate Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan’s number in his phone.

The drummer died in 2009 – but the vocalist says that, no matter how much time goes by, he’ll never complete get over the tragedy.

Shadows tells 2 Hours With Matt Pinfield: “18 years of my life, he was literally at my house every single day.

“When you lose some that close, it’s at times worse than losing a family member. Your whole world is ripped apart – everyone that knew him is a wreck emotionally.

“It goes on for years and years and years. You never fully recover from it – it’s something you live with for the rest of your life.”

He adds: “There’s all those moments where you’re like, ‘Man, this would be great if he was here for this,’ or you want to call him – his number’s still in your phone.

“It’s bizarre, but it’s also part of life. It teaches you mortality. We learned it at an age that I wish I didn’t learn it at.”

Shadows reports that it’s been difficult to keep the band going since Sullivan died, but says: “I think the band’s done a good job of being able to put on a happy face, get out there and get back to business.”

Avenged Sevenfold sneak-released seventh album The Stage last month. They’re featured in the current edition of Metal Hammer, on sale now in print and via TeamRock+. They tour Europe starting in January – dates below.

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Avenged Sevenfold tour dates 2017

Jan 10: Glasgow SSE Hydro
Jan 12: Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Jan 13: Birmingham Genting Arena
Jan 15: Sheffield Arena
Jan 16: Manchester Arena
Jan 18: Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
Jan 19: Cardiff Motorpoint Arena
Jan 21: London O2 Arena
Jan 22: London O2 Arena
Feb 12: Frankfurt Festhalle, Germany
Feb 13: Hamburg Sporthalle, Germany
Feb 15: Berlin Arena, Germany
Feb 16: Dusseldorf Mitsubishi Electric Halle, Germany
Feb 18: Amsterdam Ziggo Dome, Netherlands
Feb 20: Stuttgart Schleyerhalle, Germany
Feb 21: Milan Forum, Italy
Feb 23: Vienna Wiener Stadthalle, Austria
Feb 25: Munich Zenith, Germany
Feb 26: Zurich Halle 622, Austria
Feb 28: Lille Zenith Arena, France
Mar 01: Luxembourg Rockhal, Luxembourg
Mar 02: Paris AccorHotels Arena, France
Mar 04: Copenhagen Valby Hallen, Denmark
Mar 07: Helsinki Hartwall Arena, Finland
Mar 09: Stockholm Ericsson Globe, Sweden
Mar 10: Oslo Telenor, Norway

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Freelance Online News Contributor

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.