Fiction (Avenged Sevenfold song) explained

Fiction
Type:song
Artist:Avenged Sevenfold
Album:Nightmare
Released:July 23, 2010
Recorded:November 2009 – April 2010
Studio:The Pass (Los Angeles)
Genre:Power Ballad
Length:
  • 5:08
Label:Warner Bros.
Producer:Mike Elizondo

"Fiction" is a song by American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released on their fifth studio album, Nightmare. The song was written by the band's original drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, who died in December 2009. The song is a duet between The Rev and M. Shadows.

Background

On December 28, 2009, the Rev was found unresponsive in his Huntington Beach home, and was later pronounced dead upon arrival to the hospital.[1] Shortly after his death, Avenged Sevenfold dedicated their fifth studio album Nightmare to him.[2] [3]

"Fiction" was the final song The Rev wrote.[4] [5] Parts of "Fiction" were originally written by The Rev for his and bandmate Synyster Gates' project Pinkly Smooth.[6] It was finished only three days before his death,[7] [2] [3] under the title "Death".[8] The demo of the song featured only The Rev, with him performing on vocals, piano and drums.[9] M. Shadows and Gates stated in an interview to Hard Drive Radio:

Recording

"Fiction" is one of only two songs featuring The Rev on Nightmare, although his writing and drum arrangements are featured on every song.[10] The song features both The Rev and Shadows on lead vocals.[11] The Rev's favorite drummer, Mike Portnoy (then of Dream Theater), was brought on to finish drums on the album.[12] On this song specifically, Portnoy said he "had to play it exactly as (Jimmy) left it."[13]

Personnel

Avenged Sevenfold

Session musicians

Production

Notes and References

  1. Web site: James 'The Rev' Sullivan dies at 28; drummer for heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. Lewis. Randy. Los Angeles Times. December 30, 2009. January 6, 2017. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20160527160631/http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-jim-the-rev-sullivan30-2009dec30-story.html. May 27, 2016.
  2. Has The New Avenged Sevenfold Album Been Given A Title?. May 14, 2010. May 14, 2010. Metal Hammer. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20100517031647/http://www.metalhammer.co.uk/news/has-the-new-avenged-sevenfold-album-been-given-a-title/. May 17, 2010.
  3. Web site: Avenged Sevenfold: The Rev's Passing Steered Album's Lyrical Direction | Interviews @ . Ultimate-guitar.com . September 20, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100906081823/http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/interviews/interviews/avenged_sevenfold_the_revs_passing_steered_albums_lyrical_direction.html . September 6, 2010 .
  4. AVENGED SEVENFOLD ANNOUNCE TITLE, RELEASE DATE FOR ALBUM. Alternative Press. Tim. Karan. May 17, 2010. May 18, 2010.
  5. Web site: 10 Best Avenged Sevenfold Songs . What Culture . 13 December 2019 . 9 October 2022.
  6. Web site: Epstein . Dan . AVENGED SEVENFOLD'S 'NIGHTMARE': THE TRAGEDY AND TRIUMPH BEHIND 2010 NO. 1 ALBUM . Revolver Mag . 27 July 2018 . 9 October 2022 . "Fiction" was actually a Pinkly Smooth song back in the day. It was a final song that we didn't complete..
  7. Web site: Carter . Emily . 8 lesser known Avenged Sevenfold songs that everyone needs to hear . Kerrang . 9 October 2022.
  8. Web site: Titan . Aaron . Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare Review . https://web.archive.org/web/20121009052032/http://www.411mania.com/music/album_reviews/146958 . 2012-10-09 . 411 Mania . 9 October 2022.
  9. News: Epting . Chris . In The Pipeline . LA Times . 13 April 2023 . 17 February 2010.
  10. Web site: Late AVENGED SEVENFOLD Drummer (Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan) 'Appears' On Band's New Album. Blabbermouth.net. Roadrunner Records. May 14, 2010. May 14, 2010.
  11. Web site: Linnen . Jared . January 12, 2022 . Avenged Sevenfold - The Tragic Story of The Rev's Final Song . April 23, 2023 . Loudwire.
  12. Web site: MIKE PORTNOY WILL BE DRUMMING WITH A7X . Avenged Sevenfold . July 31, 2010 . October 24, 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110928084521/http://www.avengedsevenfold.com/news/mike-portnoy-will-be-drumming-a7x . September 28, 2011 .
  13. News: Micallef . Ken . MIKE PORTNOY - Channeling The Rev With Avenged Sevenfold . 9 October 2022 . Modern Drummer . November 2010 . 68.
  14. Web site: AVENGED SEVENFOLD'S NIGHTMARE 10 YEARS LATER . Cryptic Rock . 27 July 2020 . 9 October 2022.