Avenged Sevenfold Announces New Drummer

Avenged Sevenfold Reveals New Drummer Arin Ilejay

posted Jan 20, 2011 at 11:38 AM by The_Avant_Garde. (49 Comments)

Band Photo: Avenged Sevenfold (?)

California alternative metal act Avenged Sevenfold has revealed the new drummer who is taking over for Mike Portnoy, who recently left the band. Arin Ilejay of the Christian metalcore group Confide will be taking over the band's drumming duties for its upcoming touring commitments. No official statement has been made on whether Arin Ilejay will become the band's permanent drummer but Avenged Sevenfold offered the following comments:

"We recently asked several friends who knew Jimmy and his style, and also knew our music and each of our personalities to suggest drummers to tour with us starting this year. Our longtime studio drum tech Mike Fasano recommended Arin Ilejay.

"We've rehearsed with Arin and have been impressed with his technical skills, attitude and work ethic. We're very excited to tour with Arin and hope all of you will give him the warm welcome to the family we have."

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49 Comments on "Avenged Sevenfold Announces New Drummer"

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1. Blindgreed1 writes:

Finally! Now we can all move on with our lives.

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 11:44 AM ET | IP Logged

Member

2. weasel321 writes:

Should we sing the Hallelujah Chorus?

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 11:59 AM ET | IP Logged

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3. KREDD writes:

yes, the restless, sleepless night have come to an end.

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 12:00 PM ET | IP Logged

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4. hellrat writes:

a real meeting of the girlie trousers, eh?

how long will they be dating, do y'all reckon???

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 12:17 PM ET | IP Logged

5. gotet10 writes:

The drummer/singer in this video is NOT Arin Ilejay, it's Joel Piper (Confides new drummer)

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 1:34 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

6. btbamfav20 writes:

Who bloody well cares?!
It occurs to me that the drummer drama has been the main focus for a while, why can't there be more metalocalypse updates than A7X?! lool jk

NP: A Filthy Addiction - The Crimson Armada

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 1:52 PM ET | IP Logged

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7. Triforce writes:

lmfao how hilarious that The Rev died of a f***ing drug overdose and they replace him with some Bible Thumper hahaha.

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 4:07 PM ET | IP Logged

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8. zombieritual87 writes:

how did they manage to find someone gayier than themselfs?

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 6:43 PM ET | IP Logged

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9. brandedcfh420 writes:

I will sleep much better tonight knowing this breaking news about this pointless band who recruited a religious person as their new drummer.

I agree with post 6, and Im not joking!!

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 7:03 PM ET | IP Logged

10. wait writes:

Mike Portnoy must be having the giggles. they should of kiss his a$$ to stay in the band.

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 9:01 PM ET | IP Logged

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11. silvermountains writes:

I'm glad Mike Portnoy left, he shouldn't be embarrassed anymore by this piece of sh!t band....

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 9:10 PM ET | IP Logged

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12. ATDAWNTHEYSLEEP writes:

Knowing Portnoy...he will do something stupid to try to upstage......and I dont really care about either XL7 or Mike....

# Jan 20, 2011 @ 10:56 PM ET | IP Logged

13. udhien putra a7x writes:

i love avenged sevenfold...........foREVer
we always wait you for come indonesia

# Jan 21, 2011 @ 3:43 AM ET | IP Logged

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14. Blindgreed1 writes:

^^^LMFAO!!!

# Jan 21, 2011 @ 11:28 AM ET | IP Logged

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15. foxsaverZEN writes:

Well I like the music of Confide and I think Arin will be a good addition to ASF.....Give him a chance to prove himself
the guy is a awesome drummer....Screw Mike.....

# Jan 21, 2011 @ 1:40 PM ET | IP Logged

16. b.bristowe writes:

Post 7 says it all.

# Jan 21, 2011 @ 3:02 PM ET | IP Logged

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17. Blindgreed1 writes:

The question remains... Is the new drummer a true "Revrend"? BWAAAAAAAHAHAHAHA!!!

# Jan 21, 2011 @ 4:49 PM ET | IP Logged

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18. godlike writes:

I'm 18

# Jan 21, 2011 @ 5:22 PM ET | IP Logged

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19. pinto_beans writes:

Bg1: ZING! XD

# Jan 21, 2011 @ 5:32 PM ET | IP Logged

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20. Blindgreed1 writes:

godlike: Do you know what you want? ;-)

Pinto: Lol.

# Jan 21, 2011 @ 5:33 PM ET | IP Logged

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21. btbamfav20 writes:

HAHAHAH Godlike, that picture is f***ing awesome!
and pinto, every f***ing time i read the sentence, and look at the face, i start busting a gut lmfao

# Jan 21, 2011 @ 5:56 PM ET | IP Logged

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22. Nunya writes:

Next thing you know they'll take my guns away......

# Jan 21, 2011 @ 9:39 PM ET | IP Logged

23. FRESH FIST IN YOUR FACE writes:

iTS ABOUT TIME THEY GOT RID OF THAT PORTNAY CRAPPY DRUMMER NO ONE WILL EVER REPLACE THE REV BUT AX7 WILL KEEP ON TRUCKING THEY ARE A TOUGH METAL BAND AND WILL PULL THROUGH MIKE WAS BRINGING THERE MUSICALLY ABILITYS DOWM SO GLAD HE LEFT NOW IT TIME TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS

NP--AX7 SEIZE THE DAY

# Jan 22, 2011 @ 10:11 PM ET | IP Logged

24. greg writes:

its sad to hear M.P. leaves D.T. bt i wish him all success wit Music...

# Jan 23, 2011 @ 4:04 AM ET | IP Logged

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25. TheIronMan writes:

23: OK YES LET US DO THAT!!! I SENSE BE MAKING NOISES!!!!!! WOOOOOOOOO!!!

# Jan 23, 2011 @ 5:54 AM ET | IP Logged

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26. Nunya writes:

# 23, are you like 7 years old, cuz I haven't thought that avenged sevenfold was tough since 3rd grade

# Jan 23, 2011 @ 2:22 PM ET | IP Logged

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27. tallica_fan writes:

in other important news, a leaf became dislodged from a tree today and floated to the ground, landing on a pile of other leaves...

# Jan 23, 2011 @ 3:49 PM ET | IP Logged

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28. Trendkill91 writes:

Argh our friend returns, Fresh fist up your brown button. I have missed your child like mind. I hope you find some time to learn how to write normally before commenting on here again.

# Jan 23, 2011 @ 5:16 PM ET | IP Logged

29. N0VELC0NCEPT writes:

We replaced a sick, sadistic, f***ed up and completely f***ing amazing drummer with someone from a christian band? Do you think a7x told him that all their nicknames were made to mock religion?

# Jan 24, 2011 @ 1:30 AM ET | IP Logged

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30. TheIronMan writes:

^They're not.

# Jan 24, 2011 @ 9:42 AM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

31. Valentine_no_more writes:

wow this is meaningless news.

# Jan 24, 2011 @ 1:22 PM ET | IP Logged

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32. Nunya writes:

@TheIronMan@, so having a bassist named johnny christ is not anti-chrisitan

# Jan 24, 2011 @ 6:36 PM ET | IP Logged

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33. Master_Randomizer writes:

23: You going somewhere with this?

# Jan 24, 2011 @ 9:00 PM ET | IP Logged

34. justin777 writes:

you know what f*** all you haters a7x is the sh** and arin is an amazing drummer and he sings rather well who cares if hes religious or not its about the music so f*** off btbamfav20 at lest a7x is a real band and not a cartoon created bye old washed up doods from metal bands from the 90s

# Feb 7, 2011 @ 3:12 PM ET | IP Logged

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35. Blindgreed1 writes:

justin: You act as if A7X ISN'T a cartoon band.

# Feb 7, 2011 @ 5:00 PM ET | IP Logged

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36. TheIronMan writes:

Nunya: How is that Anti-Christian? Even if it were, how would that be mocking religion?

# Feb 7, 2011 @ 9:05 PM ET | IP Logged

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37. TheIronMan writes:

Also, it really sounds like the singer is trying to sound like the Every Time I Die singer.

And this band sucks

# Feb 7, 2011 @ 9:06 PM ET | IP Logged

Senior Reviewer

38. Cynic writes:

This thread is a crack up. What you have to get TIM is most people's anti-christ-omometer only goes up to 10, where as once you've listened to a bit more of the metal spectrum you'll see it goes all the way up to 666.

# Feb 7, 2011 @ 11:26 PM ET | IP Logged

39. Ellis D writes:

Confide is a straight copy of Underoath.

# Feb 8, 2011 @ 3:13 AM ET | IP Logged

40. RILEY.foREVer writes:

WHO EVER SAYS 17X ARE GAY LOOK AT YOUR SELVES POSTING COMMENTS ANS WASTING YOUR TIME MOCKING THEM. OBVIOUSLY PEOPLE LIKE THEM OR THEY WOULD BE THIS FAMOUS! LOVE TO SEE YOUR sh**TY LFIES MAKE A SUCCESS. AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO LIKE A7X . GOD BLESS YOU

# Feb 14, 2011 @ 4:11 PM ET | IP Logged

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41. Blindgreed1 writes:

^^^ 0.o... Who the fvck is 17X? Ritalin is a good drug and your Dr. perscribed it to you for a reason.

# Feb 14, 2011 @ 4:32 PM ET | IP Logged

Supporter

42. Valentine_no_more writes:

umm My band is being signed to a record label and I hate A7X. It's fake metal.

# Feb 14, 2011 @ 4:44 PM ET | IP Logged

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43. TheIronMan writes:

Riley: How did you spell A7X as 17X? You miss two whole f***ing keys to get to 1??

# Feb 14, 2011 @ 10:36 PM ET | IP Logged

Senior Reviewer

44. Cynic writes:

Valentine_no_more you are one of the strangest users I read comments from by miles - I what world can you proudly claim A7X is fake metal while praising Bring Me The Horizon?!?!

# Feb 14, 2011 @ 11:11 PM ET | IP Logged

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45. livingDeaDbeat00 writes:

Two fully sleeved arms – check

Feeble, Heroin addict looking body – check

Fancy longish haircut – check

Played in a christian band – check

Can play drums/back up vox at the same time – check

This guy could play the part of the Rev completely, just trade in the baggy tshirt for a leather vest and throw some eye makeup on him and he’s good to go.

# Feb 15, 2011 @ 2:25 AM ET | IP Logged

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46. Blindgreed1 writes:

Cynic: He never answers either. I've been trying to engage him for years now and figure out what makes him tick, all to no avail.

ldb: I still want to know if he's actually a reverend. :D

# Feb 15, 2011 @ 9:36 AM ET | IP Logged

47. Josh_of_Doom writes:

Has he/she got the look, and/or the malleable morals?

# Feb 15, 2011 @ 3:36 PM ET | IP Logged

Senior Reviewer

48. Cynic writes:

Lol BG: We can only assume he's a bot which has developed some kind of half-baked artificial intelligence.

# Feb 15, 2011 @ 4:32 PM ET | IP Logged

Member

49. Blindgreed1 writes:

Cynic: LMFAO... Something like that i'm sure.

# Feb 15, 2011 @ 5:02 PM ET | IP Logged

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