Rock Of Jericho’s Interview With Synyster Gates.

Chris Jericho welcomed Synyster Gates to the Rock Of Jericho earlier today so the duo could talk about surfing, enjoying time off, the success of “Nightmare” and how it differed from that of “City Of Evil,” his side-project with Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan that wasn’t Pinkly Smooth, writing for the new album and what kind of challenge it brings, his guitar-work, meeting his idle John Petrucci, his favorite song to play live and much much more. Thanks to Lindsey M for sending this in so I could share it with you all and everyone else who offered to do the same.

Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall To Use Avenged Sevenfold’s “Nightmare” As Walk-Out Music For UFC Rematch.

Ian “Uncle Creepy” McCall will be using Avenged Sevenfold’s “Nightmare” as his walk-out music for his UFC rematch against Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson. The last match controversially ended in a draw after Johnson was wrongfully declared the winner. The UFC Flyweight tournament will end with the rematch on June 8th at UFC on FX. McCall recently spoke briefly (7:26-) about his friendship with Avenged Sevenfold and how both he and the band wanted him to use their music.

Geki Rock Post Photo Gallery & Review Of Avenged Sevenfold Live In Kawasaki, Japan.

Geki Rock have shared their review (very rough translation here) and photo gallery from Avenged Sevenfold’s show in Kawasaki, Japan.

Dr DisRespect vs. Avenged Sevenfold: Part 1.

Back in December Dr DisRespect shows up at an Avenged Sevenfold concert in San Jose, CA where he was invited on stage and mouthed off with M Shadows. Today, he’s posted a video on Facebook that follows him around as he arrives at the show and heads backstage. Part 2 is slated to be released on Friday, April 6th.

“New video is up. These Avenged Sevenfold guys think they’re some hot shots stepping into the Call of Duty community. I’ll end it… for good. “These hot shot musicians think they can just easily hop into our world and dominate. I’ve got a reality check for them…. a stern reality check.” – Dr DisRespect

Two Clips Released Of Zacky Vengeance’s “Hoppus On Music” Appearance.

Zacky Vengeance will appear on Hoppus On Music this week and two clips, “Zacky Vengeance At His Old Stomping Ground” and “Zacky Vengeance Plays Truthies and Falsies” have been uploaded to give fans a sneak peek. The full interview airs Thur, Apr 5th at Midnight/11C.

Zacky Vengeance To Appear On “Hoppus On Music” Next Week.

Mark Hoppus has just announced that Frank Iero and Zacky Vengeance will appear on Hoppus On Music next week. New episodes air every Thursday at Midnight/11C on Fuse. Check your local listings for local time and air date.

Next week- Frank from My Chemical Romance and Zacky from Avenged Sevenfold hit the Orange Country music scene…only on Hoppus!

Metal Insider & Mike Portnoy Talk Avenged Sevenfold And Communication With Fans.

Metal Insider recently spoke with Mike Portnoy and the two touched upon his experience with Avenged Sevenfold bring “refreshing,” his experience playing with the band, being with them temporarily and how he didn’t want to cut off his fan base while playing with them.

Did you want to do something that, for lack of a better term, was simpler in terms of drumming?
- Yeah, after my experience with Avenged Sevenfold, I think I was really looking for something in that vein. I did the Uproar Tour with them and we were out with Disturbed, Stone Sour and Hellyeah. And I really enjoyed that environment and that type of music that was rooted in riffs and big bouncy grooves and song oriented writing. It was a good time and fun, and I didn’t have to think so much. Not that there is anything wrong with thinking, I made a great career out of that, and I still enjoy complex music. But every once in a while you need a break and you need something new and refreshing. That experience with Avenged Sevenfold was refreshing for me, and after that experience I really wanted something in that vein. So when I heard the Adrenaline Mob songs, it was exactly the right music at the right time for what I was looking for.
Is there anything else you got out of playing with Avenged Sevenfold?
- I just enjoyed the experience. Like I just said, it was fun. I didn’t have to make any decision to control anything creatively. I was basically there just to play drums and help those guys get back on their feet. But the experience was a good time and I think we served as bridges for each other. I think I served as a bridge to help them get back on their feet, to get them where they needed to go with a new, younger unknown drummer and they served as a bridge for me to get to where I needed to go to get to this next chapter in my career. So I think we helped each other to get to where we needed to go and grew from the experience.
So you always had it viewed it as a temporary thing?
- Yeah, I think all along my purpose was to help them get back on the road and pay tribute to The Rev, and that’s all it was ever going to be. I think once I left Dream Theater, the whole thing became very side tracked. I think the press and the media blew everything up and made the whole thing about me. It was never supposed to be about me and I never intended for it to be about me. I was always there to help them and pay tribute to Jimmy and then move on. I was never joining the band, that was never the intention. Once all the controversy and drama surrounding Dream Theater came up, it was obvious that we all just needed to move on and get back on focus to what the original intention was all along.

********************

And you’ve always been very hand-on with communicating with fans, even in the pre-Facebook and Twitter days. Has that been important to you from the beginning?
- Yeah, it’s been crucial to me, even in the very, very early days in the mid-eighties when Dream Theater was still Majesty. [....] I’ve always been very hands on with that. And now in the age of social media with Facebook and Twitter, I think it’s an incredibly valuable tool keeping in touch with the fans, hearing what they have to say and keeping them informed. I’ve always been about that and that’s not going to change now even though I’m not in Dream Theater. I will still apply that mentality and that personality to everything I do.
But it’s not like it hasn’t hurt me. It’s been a great thing because I’m very in touch with the fans and I can keep them involved day to day. But it has hurt me in a way because I am so open with the fans a lot of times, things I say get blown up and taken to other places, other websites, that try and sensationalize everything and blow things up and try and make mountains out of mole hills. And all I’m doing is just trying to stay in touch with the fans. I know with Avenged Sevenfold, they didn’t like the social media. Once I was touring with them I wasn’t going to just cut off my fan base because I was playing in a band that wasn’t very open. I needed to still have that open relationship with the fans. So even when I was with Avenged, I needed to have that outlet and that relationship with the fans, I wasn’t going to just cut them off. I know once everything went down with DT and I was still trying to be open with the fans and still trying to explain things, the media just took it and blew it up to such ridiculous proportions. It went places where it really didn’t need to go, but all I was doing was what I’ve always done. Trying to be very open and straight forward and no bullshit, no strings attached with the fans. I’ve always valued that relationship and that’s something that’s never going to change.

SCHECTER GUITARS RELEASE FEATURES & SPECS OF SPECIAL EDITION SYNYSTER CUSTOM IN JOKER PURPLE.

Schecter Guitars have released the features and specifications of the“Special Edition Synyster Custom” that is Joker Purple w/ Metallic Green stripes. The guitar will run you about $1499.

SCHECTER GUITARS RELEASE FEATURES & SPECS OF “ZV CUSTOM REISSUE.”

Schecter Guitars have released the features and specifications of the “ZV Custom Reissue.” Both models come in at around $1100.

UN D VIDED’S HARLEY DEWINTER INCLUDES TRIBUTE TO JIMMY “THE REV” SULLIVAN ON NEW DRUM KIT.

Harley deWinter, drummer of Un D Vided, showed off his brand new kit at NAMM 2012 on Friday. On it he included 
a tribute to Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan with a custom Day-Of-The-Dead Deathbat and more. The 12 inch Rack Tom was painted by Craig Fraser of Rockett Drum Works.

“This kit was designed by Harley and more specifically he insisted that there be a tribute to his favorite drummer, James “The Rev” Sullivan. Craig Fraser took it to the next level and made the entire drum a tribute to “The Rev” Hope you enjoy.”

SYNYSTER GATES & M SHADOWS AT NAMM 2012 + GUITAR AUTOGRAPHED BY SYN AND M SHADOWS.

Synyster Gates and M Shadows stopped by the Schecter Guitars booth atNAMM 2012 to take part in an autograph signing for attendees. Arin Ilejaywas also caught there by Un D Vided‘s Klarissa. Schecter also announcedthey’ll be giving fans a shot at winning a guitar autographed by Syn and M Shadows along with others so keep an eye out for that announcement.

- Suzy Haner has shared a photo of M Shadows and Synyster Gates at NAMM.
- Schecter Guitars shared a video of quite a line of people waiting for an autograph signing to kick off. A second video posted reveals they were getting ready for M Shadows and Synyster Gates.

Vote Avenged Sevenfold In The Grammy’s “GRAMMY Live Contest.”

The Grammy’s may have gone a bit downhill over the past few years but there’s no denying the honor of being nominated or winning an award. Avenged Sevenfold have never had the chance though they’ve been submitted and while those who vote may not know what they’re missing out on our voices as fans can be heard. As of right now they’re holding a contest entitled the “GRAMMY Live Contest” where you can vote for your favorite band or musician to have an opportunity to take part in music’s biggest week. Make sure to head over and put your vote in for Avenged Sevenfold, you can do so up to 10 times per day. Voting ends in a few days, winners will be announced on 1/24/12. The Grammy’s take place on Feb 12th at 9/8c on CBS.

Avenged Sevenfold Headlining Sonisphere UK Rumor, Indonesia Information And More.

Larry Jacobson took to his twitter today to pass along some information to curious fans.
- When asked about the rumor that Avenged Sevenfold would be headlining Sonisphere UK this year he simply stated that it was “Not true.”
- There was good news for fans in Indonesia as he did say “Details coming soon” to a fan that asked when the band would be making their way there.
- “More details” are also on their way “soon” for fans wanting to see the band in Singapore.
- Looks like Malaysia may be getting lucky too.

Avenged Sevenfold Do WWE Monday Night Raw.

M Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, Johnny Christ, Arin Ilejay (and apparently Synyster Gates) were spotted during last nights WWE Monday Night RAW event in Anaheim, CA as Chris Jericho made his way to the ring. You can find M Shadows at 5:21-5:27 while Johnny Christ & Zacky Vengeance come in around 5:39-5:43.

Metallic Mini-Print Photo Of M Shadows Available From Jeremy Saffer.

Photographer Jeremy Saffer is having a $5 sale on some photos he’s shot which includes a 4×6 Metallic Mini-Print of M Shadows taken a few yeas ago for Hardcore Ink Magazine. Use the code “MINI” for free shipping world-wide on mini-prints alone. You can also purchase the Limited Edition Metallic 8×12 print of the same photo for $10 but be quick because only 13 were made. The 8×12 prints are now sold out. Photos printed on Kodak Endura Metallic paper. Watermark does not appear on purchased photo.

Read Rock Sound’s Interview With Avenged Sevenfold For Their Class Of 2012 Issue.

Rock Sound have released their “Class Of 2012″ issue and inside there’s an interview with M Shadows in which he talks about the next year for Avenged Sevenfold. Deathbat News reader Rena was kind enough to scan the article and send it in to be shared.

(Click for full sizes)

Avenged Sevenfold Interview Featured In New Metal Hammer Issue.

A new interview with Avenged Sevenfold is featured in the latest issue of Metal Hammer featuring Phil Anselmo on the cover where the publication kicks off its preview of 2012. You can purchase it online here.

It all ties into our massive 2012 preview feature, featuring interviews with the likes of AVENGED SEVENFOLD, SABATON, COHEED AND CAMBRIA, WHILE SHE SLEEPS, GOJIRA, MESHUGGAH, THE DARKNESS, SOULFLY and every total legend, plucky n00b and underground veteran we’re backing to make 2012 a memorable one.

Schecter Guitars: 2012 Synyster Special In Gloss White.

Schecter Guitar’s gave Avenged Sevenfold fans a sneak peek at the Synyster Special in Gloss White due out in 2012. The Gloss Black Synyster Gates Special debuted earlier last year.

ARTISTdirect’s “The Six-String Titans of the Twenty First Century: Best Modern Guitarists” List.

ARTISTdirect have published their list of “The Six-String Titans of the Twenty First Century: Best Modern Guitarists.” It’s no shock that both Synyster Gates and Zacky Vengeance made the list.

You’ve heard of a “rock opera”? Well, over the years, A7X have evolved into somewhat of a glorious heavy metal opera. It’s almost Guns N’ Roses meets The Nightmare Before Christmas, isn’t it? And hey- we’re not here to complain. Love them both! Here’s to Avenged and their incredible musical ambitions.