Dec. 28 marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Jimmy Sullivan, aka "The Rev," drummer for the Huntington Beach-based band Avenged Sevenfold. According to reports, he died from an accidental overdose of strong prescription painkillers, and so, even though this may be considered a "preventable" death, loss is still loss.
I know how tough this is for the Sullivan family. Because I covered the event last year, with subsequent follow-ups, it put me in touch with many members of the Avenged Sevenfold "family," the passionate, loyal fan base that stretches across the globe. In the spirit of remembrance, and to illustrate the far-reaching effects of Jimmy's death, I thought this week's column could function as an "open letter" of sorts, a chance for fans to express directly to the Sullivans what they are feeling.
Kortney Ehrhart, who runs http://www.deathbatnews.com, coordinated the global effort after I reached out for help. Thank you, Kortney. Hundreds upon hundreds of missives arrived, and all will be delivered to the family. Joe, Barbara, Katie and Kelly, here is a small sampling, testaments to the thunderous musical legacy that your Jimmy left the world.
