Synyster Gates obtained his first guitar around the age of ten. His father, Brian Haner Sr. looked down on his music at first because he thought it would interfere with the rest of his contemporary life. However, Synyster Gates ignored his father's warnings, and despite his doubts, his father encouraged his playing later on; and with his help, Synyster Gates was able to play Stairway to Heaven. He could also learn a song by ear at the age of twelve.
Synyster Gates attended Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, California and Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California as a teenager, and then the Musicians Institute in Hollywood as part of the GIT program, studying jazz guitar. His father Brian Haner Sr., is a musician and is often called Avenged Sevenfold's official acoustic guitar player for his appearances on their albums, such as the acoustic solo on City of Evil 's "Sidewinder" and "MIA".
Gates joined Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) when he was 18 at the end of 1999, right before the recording of the band's first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. He was featured on their EP "Warmness on the Soul," and on the reissue of their first album. He also plays piano for the band on songs such as "Beast and the Harlot" and "Sidewinder," though a former member of the band, bassist Justin Meacham, also known as "Justin Sane" (not to be confused with Justin Sane of Anti-Flag), played the piano on Warmness on the Soul.
In the Avenged Sevenfold DVD "All Excess," to emphasize the seemingly random placing of names, Gates stated that his name was thought of on a drunken drive through the park with The Rev. His exact words were, "I am Synyster Gates, and I am awesome!".[1]
Gates cites Django Reinhardt, Frank Gambale, Adam Aparicio, Basillios, Dimebag Darrell, Slash, Francis Canavan, and Eddie Van Halen as his favorite guitarists and major influences. He has won numerous awards, including the "Young Shredder" award of the year in the Metal Hammer awards in 2005 and the "Guitarist of the Year" Award for Total Guitar Magazine in 2006.
Synyster Gates was also a member of the "Goblin Metal" side-project Pinkly Smooth with The Rev. Pinkly Smooth was disbanded because Gates and The Rev wished to focus full-time on Avenged Sevenfold, although when asked recently, they both revealed there is a new side project being planned, featuring the two playing classic Pinkly Smooth tunes.
Synyster Gates had his 1st tattoo done at age 15 on his thumb. It was the number one, and when asked why he stated "I was young and thought it would be cool."
Synyster Gates attended Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach, California and Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California as a teenager, and then the Musicians Institute in Hollywood as part of the GIT program, studying jazz guitar. His father Brian Haner Sr., is a musician and is often called Avenged Sevenfold's official acoustic guitar player for his appearances on their albums, such as the acoustic solo on City of Evil 's "Sidewinder" and "MIA".
Gates joined Avenged Sevenfold (A7X) when he was 18 at the end of 1999, right before the recording of the band's first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. He was featured on their EP "Warmness on the Soul," and on the reissue of their first album. He also plays piano for the band on songs such as "Beast and the Harlot" and "Sidewinder," though a former member of the band, bassist Justin Meacham, also known as "Justin Sane" (not to be confused with Justin Sane of Anti-Flag), played the piano on Warmness on the Soul.
In the Avenged Sevenfold DVD "All Excess," to emphasize the seemingly random placing of names, Gates stated that his name was thought of on a drunken drive through the park with The Rev. His exact words were, "I am Synyster Gates, and I am awesome!".[1]
Gates cites Django Reinhardt, Frank Gambale, Adam Aparicio, Basillios, Dimebag Darrell, Slash, Francis Canavan, and Eddie Van Halen as his favorite guitarists and major influences. He has won numerous awards, including the "Young Shredder" award of the year in the Metal Hammer awards in 2005 and the "Guitarist of the Year" Award for Total Guitar Magazine in 2006.
Synyster Gates was also a member of the "Goblin Metal" side-project Pinkly Smooth with The Rev. Pinkly Smooth was disbanded because Gates and The Rev wished to focus full-time on Avenged Sevenfold, although when asked recently, they both revealed there is a new side project being planned, featuring the two playing classic Pinkly Smooth tunes.
Synyster Gates had his 1st tattoo done at age 15 on his thumb. It was the number one, and when asked why he stated "I was young and thought it would be cool."
