Avenged Sevenfold’s Synyster Gates admits he didn’t like The Rev when they first met

Avenged Sevenfold in 2006 — Avenged Sevenfold with The Rev at the 2006 Metal Hammer Golden Gods (Image credit: Chiaki Nozu/FilmMagic - Getty)

Avenged Sevenfold guitarist Synyster Gates has told Metal Hammer magazine that he and the late Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan didn’t see eye-to-eye when they first met at school.

Gates, aka Brian Elwin Haner, first encountered The Rev in woodwork class when they were both in eighth grade – and Gates admits he didn’t like the kid who would go on to become his friend and A7X bandmate in the years that followed.

Gates says: “I didn’t like him at first. He was loud, crazy and fucking with everybody – but definitely a charismatic guy.”

The pair even became embroiled in a fist-fight at one point – an encounter that, although landing them both in detention, would lead them to become fast friends – as it was here they discovered they shared a love of heavy music.

Gates adds: “My brother was a drummer so we went back to my house and played on his kit and I was fucking blown away.

“I had never heard drumming that great on tape or CD at that point. This guy was next-level. I came to find out that he’s playing Dream Theater stuff and shit that I’d never heard of before – things that truly blew my mind. We just hit it off right there.”

The full interview can be found in issue 330 of Metal Hammer magazine which is dedicated to The Rev, who died 10 years ago this month.

In a new interview, the band open up about their relationship with Jimmy, his influence on the group and the legacy he left behind.

The magazine also comes with a free commemorative art print dedicated to The Rev, plus a bonus Avenged Sevenfold magazine, best of 2019 CD and 2020 calendar featuring Slipknot, Rob Zombie, Ghost, Within Temptation, Halestorm and more.

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The rev metal hammer cover — (Image credit: Metal Hammer)

Scott has spent 37 years in newspapers, magazines and online as an editor, production editor, sub-editor, designer, writer and reviewer. Scott joined our news desk in 2014 before moving into e-commerce in 2020. Scott maintains Louder’s buyer’s guides, highlights deals, and reviews headphones, speakers, earplugs and more. Over the last 12 years, Scott has written more than 11,500 articles across Louder, Classic Rock, Metal Hammer and Prog. He's previously written for publications including IGN, Sunday Mirror, Daily Record and The Herald, covering everything from news and features, to tech reviews, video games, travel and whisky. Scott's favourite bands are Fields Of The Nephilim, The Cure, New Model Army, All About Eve, The Mission, Cocteau Twins, Drab Majesty, Marillion and Rush.