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Synyster Gates
Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. (born July 7, 1981), better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist of the band Avenged Sevenfold. He has appeared with many different styles of his custom Schecter guitars, however he tends to use his black with silver pinstripes. Synyster Gates ranked at #87 in Guitar World's "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". He studied at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, California, as part of the Guitar Institute of Music program, studying jazz and classical guitar. After a year or so of being there, he got a call from The Rev asking him if he wanted to "join his band", as lead guitarist. Haner joined rather than continuing his education to become a studio producer. Up until that time he was primarily self-taught by watching videos and reading books. His father, Brian Haner/Brian Haner, Sr., also known as "Guitar Guy," is a songwriter, guitarist and comedian who has toured with Jeff Dunham. Gates is of Spanish and German ancestry. On the Avenged Sevenfold DVD All Excess, Syn claimed that his name was created on a drunken drive through the park with The Rev.
Synyster Gates has won eight awards. He won the Dimebag Darrell "young shredder award" in the 2006 "Golden God Awards" run by Metal Hammer. In 2006, Synyster Gates was named guitarist of the year by Total Guitar Magazine.
Johnny Christ
Johnny Christ, (born Jonathan Lewis Seward ; November 18, 1984) is the bassist of the American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. Johnny was the fourth bassist to join Avenged Sevenfold in 2003, replacing former members Matt Wendt, Justin Sane, and Dameon Ash. Johnny Seward attended Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California. He proceeded through high school and formally met M. Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, Synyster Gates and The Rev. Despite not being in the band at the time, Johnny was already friends with The Rev and Synyster Gates, then soon after M. Shadows and Zacky Vengeance. Following the departure of Dameon Ash in 2002, he was invited to fill the position as Avenged Sevenfold's bassist, as he had played the bass with the band whenever Dameon could not attend. Johnny could pick up on the pace of a song that he did not know quite quickly and proved to be a unique bass guitarist. "I don't think any one out there could pick up a bass line as quick as Johnny" were the words from the Rev. Seward initially took a few weeks off from high school during his senior year to fill in for Avenged Sevenfold's previous bassist, Dameon Ash, during one of their tours because he went on tour with Avenged Sevenfold as a roadie.