Avenged Sevenfold drummer found dead

December 30, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Police say James Owen Sullivan, a drummer and backup vocalist for the Southern California band Avenged Sevenfold, has been found dead at his home in Southern California.

Lt. John Domingo says the 28-year-old Sullivan, who went by the stage name The Rev, appears to have died of natural causes on Monday in Huntington Beach.

Avenged Sevenfold formed in Huntington Beach in 1999 and won Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards in 2006.

According to the group’s MySpace page, the five-man metalcore band was working on their fifth album.

The band members released a statement Monday expressing their sadness and calling Sullivan “one of the world’s best drummers,” and “our best friend and brother.”

Today’s birthdays

Singer Noel Paul Stookey of Peter, Paul and Mary is 72. Singer Mike Nesmith of The Monkees is 67. Singer Davy Jones of The Monkees is 64. TV host Meredith Vieira is 56. “Today” show anchor Matt Lauer is 52. Actress-comedian Tracey Ullman is 50. TV host Sean Hannity is 48. Singer Jay Kay of Jamiroquai is 40. Singer-actor Tyrese is 31. Actress Eliza Dushku (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Tru Calling”) is 29. Guitarist Tim Lopez of Plain White T’s is 29. Actress Kristin Kreuk (“Smallville”) is 27.