10 Awesome Hard Rock Bands You Must See Live
8. Avenged Sevenfold
Losing a band member threatens the fabric of any band. Avenged Sevenfold released their fifth album, Nightmare, July 27, 2010, a mere five months after drummer Jimmy The Rev Sullivan died as a result of a drug cocktail. During the Welcome to the Family Tour in 2011, lead singer M. Shadows announced that there would be vocals played through the P.A. but no one on stage would be visibly singing, as they wanted to keep the Rev alive with their music. Legendary drummer Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater recorded the album, and the man that would end up being the new full-time drummer, Arin Ilejay, filled in during the tour. For their encore, a piano was wheeled on stage and the lights dimmed. Spotlights shined on the piano and the band played the two final tracks on Nightmare, one written and partially recorded by Sullivan, and the other a tribute to their fallen bandmate. Overall, the band has a great stage presence and plenty of theatrics throughout their live set. The atmosphere of their shows combined with the musicianship make them a must see. The bands website is currently set up like an old style jukebox that can be tuned to hear songs from the years the band has been active, including a teaser of their forthcoming album.They are rumored to be releasing an album later this year and are playing a few U.S. cities before heading to Europe this fall with Five Finger Death Punch and Device.