Jimmy “The Rev” Sullivan, the famous and talented drummer from Avenged Sevenfold, was found unresponsive in his Huntington Beach home on December 28, 2009. The drummer's death was called a naturally caused death, but as of today, that is no longer true.
The Toxicology reports from Sullivan's passing finally arrived. The results showed that Sullivan passed away due to an accidental overdose of prescription drugs and alcohol. Orange County Deputy Coroner Mitchell Sigal told Rolling Stone that Sullivan suffered an "acute polydrug intoxication due to combined effects of Oxycodone, Oxymorphone, Diazepam/Nordiazepam and ethanol." Actor Heath Ledger died from the same cause as Jimmy did back on January 22, 2008.
Reports also included that Jimmy had cardiomegaly, which is an enlarged heart. This was written as a "significant condition" on the report and may have possibly played a huge factor in this death.
"To all of us who loved Jimmy, the only thing relevant about December 28 is that is the night we lost, too soon, a son, brother, friend and one of the most talented artists in the world,” the band's manager Larry Jacobson tells Rolling Stone.
Jimmy, who was just 28 years of age, passed away on December 28, 2009 and was buried in a private ceremony on January 6th. Members of Jimmy's family attended, including his wife, as well as friends and his band.
Avenged Sevenfold took time to remember their friend and bandmate before hiring one of Sullivan's favorite drummers to replace him. Mike Portnoy will head on tour with the band, which kicks off August 17th in Minneapolis and goes until October 4th.