"The first thought about the band that went through my mind was: ‘The band’s over.'" How Avenged Sevenfold found the strength to carry on after the death of The Rev - with the unlikely help of Mike Portnoy and the guy who wrote 50 Cent's biggest hit

Avenged and The Rev.

In the summer of 2010, just under half a year since the shocking and untimely death of their drummer and beloved friend, Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan, Avenged Sevenfold attempted to rally themselves and officially begin the next chapter of an already turbulent career. In a world exclusive interview conducted at the time by Metal Hammer's Dom Lawson, the Orange County metal heavyweights opened up on the impact of losing Jimmy, their new album Nightmare and tribute to him, and what the future held. This is that interview, published in full.

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