James “The Rev” Sullivan, drummer of Avenged Sevenfold, died from an accidental overdose caused by a combination of prescription drugs and alcohol, with an enlarged heart noted as a contributing condition.

Who was “The Rev”?

  • James Owen “Jimmy” Sullivan was the drummer and backing vocalist for the American metal band Avenged Sevenfold, known professionally as “The Rev”.
  • He was 28 years old at the time of his death in December 2009 and was a founding member of the band formed in Huntington Beach, California.

How did The Rev die?

  • On December 28, 2009, he was found unresponsive at his home in Huntington Beach and pronounced dead shortly after.
  • Initial reports described the death as appearing to be from natural causes, but the autopsy was inconclusive and required toxicology analysis.

Official cause of death

  • Toxicology results later showed “acute polydrug intoxication” from alcohol combined with prescription medications including oxycodone, oxymorphone, diazepam, and related substances.
  • Authorities and music press reported this as an accidental overdose rather than an intentional act of self-harm.

Health factors mentioned

  • The coroner also noted that The Rev had an enlarged heart, described as a “significant condition” that may have played a role in his death.
  • This heart condition is often cited alongside the overdose findings when his death is discussed in official records and retrospectives.

Aftermath and legacy

  • Avenged Sevenfold dedicated their album Nightmare and songs like “So Far Away” and “Fiction” to The Rev after his passing.
  • Fans and fellow musicians continue to honor him as one of the most creative drummers of his era, and his death remains a poignant moment in modern metal history.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.