Avenged Sevenfold have shared a note from Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan’s mother to fans:
February 9, 2012
Tempering the sadness of missing Jimmy these last two years has been the outpouring of love, hugs, thoughts, prayers, and wishes – from his last music recorded and performed so emotionally by his brothers on “Nightmare” – from the kind sentiments expressed by his peers and those he looked up to in magazines and notes – from hugs and stories friends and relatives have shared – to the remembrances posted on-line and tokens left or given to us in person by you, his A7X family. The family you choose is as important as the family you are born into, and Jimmy chose his extended A7X family well.
Because the cemetery clears the grounds every week, I have tried to collect all the items left there, some from as far away as Sweden, Italy and Australia. You have left so many heartfelt notes, drawings, pictures, poems and tokens – from the affectionate “stallion” ducks and rubber “ninja” knives for the knife master, to drumsticks, concert programs, hand-made items and too many to list. No tokens have warmed my heart more though, than recently finding three 2-year-sober coins, as well as more than a dozen more ranging from 1-day to 1-year, proudly left for Jimmy to see.
On this his birthday, I wanted to acknowledge and thank you all for this comfort. Happy Birthday Jimmy – best remember him by jumping into life with all you have in you and living with hope, enthusiasm, love, and a bit of uninhibited silliness.
Thanks and love to you all,
Jimmy’s mom
#foREVer
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can someone pass the tissues, beautiful words for a beautiful man WE LOVE YOU JIMMY XX
Comment by sarra February 9, 2012 @ 10:12 amOh, that is amazing! I teared up a little reading this. Thank you so much for posting it up for us!
Comment by River February 9, 2012 @ 10:18 amI was wondering – is there any thoughts on starting up a memorial fund or any kind of scholarship in Jimmy’s name? I’d love to see something like that happen.
I could have sworn Musicians Institute in Hollywood had a scholarship named after him? I just checked their website and there’s only the Schecter Brian Haner guitar scholarship. Maybe we could all do a campaign to DW Drums (they used to sponsor him) and see if they’d be interested?
Comment by Marissa February 9, 2012 @ 10:13 pmThank you sooo much Barbara for sharing your note and most importantly thank you for sharing Jimmy with the world. Also it means the world to us you mentioning the A7X family!!!
Comment by Revenant February 9, 2012 @ 10:20 amThat… Is one of the sweetest things I have ever seen in my entire life.
Comment by Brenayyyy February 9, 2012 @ 10:28 amThis brought me to tears…. So sad yet so very beautiful…
Comment by ashleigh February 9, 2012 @ 10:57 amI wanna write something, but i’m really out of words on this one :’) Happy bithday Jimmy
Comment by Martin Dovne Mariboe Olesen February 9, 2012 @ 11:25 amBarbara is one of the kinded people I have never met :’) It’s amazing how she takes the time to message us fans at such a hard time for her <3
Comment by Amanda :) February 9, 2012 @ 11:30 amAww <3
Comment by ebzblackcherry February 9, 2012 @ 12:01 pmMade me tear up so bad. He have changed my life, and I guess many others too. He were a wonderful human being!
Comment by Elise Høybakken February 9, 2012 @ 12:09 pmHappy birthday Jimmy, we have you in our hearts foREVer! <3
Ditto-pass the Kleenex.
Comment by Anne Stenslien February 9, 2012 @ 2:15 pm<3<3<3
Comment by Atrum February 9, 2012 @ 12:26 pmIt’s amazing how much his family has been connected to the a7x community since Jimmy passed away. Jimmy’s parents are pretty amazing, and it’s easy to see how he turned out as great as he did. Reading things like this really get me through my day. Thank you, Mama Rev.
Comment by Mullet February 9, 2012 @ 12:34 pmThis, 100 per cent
Comment by anne February 9, 2012 @ 2:40 pmLovely, brought a smile to my morning (:
Comment by April Sevenfold February 9, 2012 @ 1:05 pmTeared me up a little too. I simply do not know what to say. Thank you Barbara for staying in touch with us.
foEVer <3
Comment by Andrea Lam February 9, 2012 @ 1:27 pmThanks for sharing this….He is truly missed & loved by many…Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan Happy Birthday keep on rockin \m/ \m/ foREVer ♥
Comment by Cheryl February 9, 2012 @ 1:29 pmSo so sweet of her to take time to talk to the fans she is realy the best tahnks jimmy’s mom we love you love all the family from jimmy’s a7x family happy birthday jimmy the rev sullivan we all realy miss and love you very much not day dont thank of you jimmy you are never forget love you fo…..rev…..er thanks again mom mom sullivan
Comment by michelle shadows February 9, 2012 @ 2:44 pmMrs. Sullivan, as a mother myself, my heart aches for you, as I cannot imagine how hard it would be to lose one of my children.Thank you so much for your kind words, and for blessing us all with such a beautiful person.
Comment by Sandra Caldwell February 9, 2012 @ 6:05 pmThis has got to be the MOST heartfelt, tear-jerking letter I have ever read about someone. First, I want to thank Mrs. Sullivan for sharing this note with us. Secondly, I want to thank her for giving birth to one of the GREATEST drummers our generation has ever seen and will ever know. Third, my condolences go out to the members of Avenged Sevenfold for their heart breaking loss. Lastly, I myself would like to say rest in peace Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan for you were too young to leave us and on a side note would like to say Jimmy…your my biggest inspiration and my idol. Your music is what got me into drumming knowing that no matter what kind of obstacle is thrown at you, you look at that obstacle in the eyes and say im taking you down. Again RIP Jimmy and I will admit I will and have shed a few tears for you. #SoFarAway #foREVer
Comment by Michael K. February 9, 2012 @ 9:17 pmI was never into Drumming. Until I went to my first concert. And my first concert was A7X. And as soon as the Afterlife Intro played, I knew the Drummer, who I knew nothing about, was by far, the most inspirational in the band, and the life of the band. As soon as my friend told me who Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan was, I wanted to get his autograph, because i knew he would be a person I would look up to, and someone I could tell my kids about. So, I went to Huntington Beach, CA, and went to their last stop in their tour and got his autograph. And now, I can tell my kids about The Rev, and I will always remember Jimmy as the life of the band, and the song that got me hooked on The Almighty Avenged Sevenfold. I read this, and all I could think was “Damn, I’ve never read something like this, and cried.” Jimmy was what got me into Drumming, and I can’t wait to see him in the Afterlife. Happy Birthday Jimmy, You’re in our hearts foREVer.
Comment by Taylor Harrison February 9, 2012 @ 11:01 pmA little over two years, still burns with in the depths of me. The same goes for any A7x fan. We all may have not known him personally, but it was just one of those things that we will always take personal. “Together Strong, Forever Unstoppable”- DethbatNeWs
Comment by Jason Pepper February 10, 2012 @ 1:57 amThis is so beautiful. Thank you Mama Sullivan, from me and every member of the A7X family. Jimmy was truly the most amazing person, drummer, and man to walk this earth, and i am proud to call him my brother.. My heart goes out to you and the rest of the family. Thank you for sharing something so beautiful with us when the time is so hard. We may not be family by blood, but we are a family by love. We love you Jimmy, foREVer.
Comment by shelby February 10, 2012 @ 9:06 amI can’t really find the right words to explain how I feel inside so let me just say: Happy Birthday, Jimmy! We miss you and love you. Huge hugs from an Italian fan :) http://twitpic.com/7zwrcd
Comment by peitol February 11, 2012 @ 8:02 amThank you and best wishes for the future to all the Sullivan-family .
Comment by kurt.west.norway February 11, 2012 @ 8:24 amHuge congratulations to all who are getting clean. You’re making more than your own mama happy.
Comment by Jenn (@corruptinnocent) February 12, 2012 @ 2:46 pmI am the mother of a 16 year old daughter who became so inspired by Jimmy. We both love music but Jimmy is the reason my daughter got a set of drums for Christmas. We could not afford to see A7X before he passed. She has every A7X CD & their DVD as well. She wrote on her wall with a permanent marker “RIP” to him the day he passed and asked if I was upset. It is still on her wall. Music is something we both are very passionate about. We did get to see A7X in Evansville, IN when they came to town in 2011 four rows back in the pit. We sang and cried together. I will never forget that night. Thank you A7X for such a great mother and daughter night we shared together that we will never forget. My daughter turned me on to the greatest band in the world, A7X. I listen to your music every day. I feel so bad that we did not get to see Jimmy that night, but he was in our hearts. Please return to Evansville, Indiana and give Cindy and her daughter Michaela another great night to share more kick ass music and remember “The Rev” together again. We love you guys. RIP Rev for you are missed and loved.
Comment by Cindy Quick February 19, 2012 @ 3:08 pm