Benji speaks about THE REV to KERRANG
Good Charlotte guitarist Benji Madden contacted Kerrang! to pay tribute to Avenged Sevenfold’s drummer, Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan, who was found dead in his Huntington Beach home on December 28.
“This isn’t something I have had to deal with a lot in my life, so I really don’t know what to write,” begins Benji. “Right now, it doesn’t really feel real. [After Jimmy’s service], we went to Shadows house and had a few drinks, telling our best Jimmy stories and we laughed until we cried. The Rev has more stories about him than any other person I know. Stories we couldn’t tell in a church, stories that sound like exaggerations but they aren’t. The Rev is rock ‘n’ roll through and through. One of the greats. One of those souls that comes along so rarely and just touches every single person around him. To know Jimmy is to love Jimmy. If you happen to have spent an evening out with The Rev on tour somewhere or at some get together or function, well, you were best friends for life after that. And Jimmy didn’t forget it. It’s not an act. I must have heard 50 people call Jimmy their best friend [during the service]. And they meant it. Loveable is a great word to describe Jimmy. Endearing. Kind hearted. Carefree. A fucking legend!
“I’m just talking about the kid who, as Shadows recalled, took communion in a ‘Slayer Fucking Slayer’ T-shirt when he was 12, dancing up the church aisle the whole way, making all the kids laugh. I’m talking about the guy that who stood up to his all time musical hero, for talking disrespectfully to his best friend’s girl. He doesn’t judge people. Rev didn’t have a bad bone in his body. That quality… It is impossible to describe, he was just born with it. That’s just The Rev.
“I took you for granted, Rev,” he continues. “I took for granted being able to hang with you at the family get-togethers and holidays over the years. I took for granted watching you play drums. I took for granted our conversations. And fuck man, watching you play drums! You want to love music? Watch The Rev play drums. Listen to him play on a demo. Listen to him play on a record.
“Good Charlotte and A7X are more than just bands,” says Benji. “We are family. We celebrate each other’s lives together, holidays, weddings, kids being born. Successes and failures. Jimmy is at the heart and soul of all of it. He has taught me more then anyone I ever met in any church. And now you get to live forever, Jimmy. You are one of the greats.
“See you on the other side Rev,” he concludes. “We love you forever.”
Comments
This is so sad. I wish I would have been able to meet Jimmy. He sounds like an amazing guy. My thoughts and prayers go out to anyone Jimmy ever touched.
— Lydia Longmore · Tuesday January 19, 2010 · #
All Hail Saint Jimmy!! Mark your calenders! Remember to celebrate St. Rev’s Day February 9th!
That was heart-felt Benji. May God lift you all up in this time of sadness.
— Mrs. Twiztid · Tuesday January 19, 2010 · #
i wish i couldlve met him….:[
rip…
— thomas Moore · Tuesday January 19, 2010 · #
Wow amazing words, thanks for sharing a little bit of Jimmy with us Benj, i love Kerrang its one of my favourite magazines, hearing Jimmy drum on the a7x records makes me fall in love with music all over again, he was such an amazing talent and taken from us to soon. Although i never had the pleasure of meeting Jimmy i am and always will be a fan of his and remember him as the amazing drummer he was.
We love you Jimmy!
naomi
That’s amazing Benji!!! I really appericate you guys that all of u care about him !! Although the Rev was the greatest drummer but for me he is !! His creation and his music are amazing!!But it is sad that god rest his soul too early!! We all still wanna see him plays drum and see him smile !! REST IN PEACE JIMMY!! We’ll meet you there soon!! And i hope u will play drum for us when we met in heaven!! LOVE YOU JIMMY!! YOU LIVE FOREVER !!!! Love Zacky Lian
— Zacky Lian · Thursday January 21, 2010 · #
Since there was some confusion about when the Rev’s actual birthday (some say February 9th some say 10th) is why not have two days to celebrate his awesomeness!! I survived yesterday and last night and I feel pretty rough this morning. I guess I almost over did it last night and everything still tastes like licorace from the absinthe we used to toast to St. Jimmy. I got lost in two doses and watched some LBC. Two things I know for certian, 1. we are all going to miss Jimmy, and 2. He was truely the best drummer in the universe hands down. To his family, my heart goes out to you all. The main comfort that I have found in all of this is that Jimmy was home when he passed. I was so glad that he was home and not on the road when it happened. To the brothers (A7X), May God give you strength to carry on. I know it my be some time before you guys feel like doing anything but please remember that we are hear, we are waiting, and we will continue to support you guys no matter what. If nothing else, carry on for Jimmy. It is clear that he loved you guys and things will never be the same. It saddens me to think about how it is going to be without Jimmy. He was always around and up to something and he is going to be missed. The first tour will be the toughest but you guys are tough and he would want you all to stick together and pull through this. Just remember, Jimmy is always present~you can hear his laughter in the ocean surf, feel the warmness of his smile in the sunset, the love he had for his family, friends, and fans in the vast ocean waves, his heart in every beat he played, and his mind and soul in the music that he wrote and loved.
A Toast To Saint Jimmy
Selisa Twiztid
— Mrs. Twiztid · Wednesday February 10, 2010 · #
<3
— Sonia · Tuesday January 19, 2010 · #