According to reports from The Orange Country Register, James Owen Sullivan, aka The Rev, drummer with Avenged Sevenfold, was found dead at his home in California on December 28. The sticksmith apparently died of natural causes.

This appears to have been confirmed by the band, who have released the following statement:

“It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy ‘The Rev’ Sullivan. Jimmy was not only one of the world’s best drummers, but more importantly, he was our best friend and brother. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jimmy’s family and we hope that you will respect their privacy during this difficult time.”

Sullivan’s body was reportedly found by firefighters at around 1pm on Monday. He was 28 years old. The thoughts of everyone here at Thrash Hits are with Sullivan’s friends, family and bandmates.