Synyster Gates

Synyster Gates joined Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) in 2001, after the release of the band's first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. He was featured on their EP, Warmness on the Soul, and on the reissue of their first album, only playing on one song, "To End The Rapture." He also plays piano for the band on songs such as Seize the Day and Sidewinder . His father, Brian Haner Sr. is a musician and is often called Avenged Sevenfold's official acoustic guitar player for his appearances on their albums, such as the acoustic solo on City of Evil's "Sidewinder".

Gates attended Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, California as a child, and then the Musicians Institute in Hollywood1as part of the GIT program, studying jazz guitar. Django Reinhardt is cited as a major influence.[citation needed] Gates has won numerous awards, including the "Young Shredder" award of the year in the Metal Hammer awards in 2006 and the "Guitarist of the Year" Award for Total Guitar Magazine in 2006.

In the Avenged Sevenfold DVD "All Excess," to emphasize the seemingly random placing of names, Gates stated that his name was thought of on a drunken drive through the park with The Rev. His exact words were, "I am Synyster Gates, and I am awesome."

Gates was also a member of the experimental metal side-project Pinkly Smooth, a side project with The Rev (Avenged Sevenfold's drummer), alongside former bassist of Avenged Sevenfold, Justin Sane (not to be confused with Justin Sane from Anti-Flag). Pinkly Smooth was disbanded because Gates and The Rev wished to focus full-time on Avenged Sevenfold, although when asked recently, they both revealed there is a new side project being planned, featuring the two playing older Pinkly Smooth songs.

Gates also has newly released a clothing line called Syn Gates Clothing.