AVENGED SEVENFOLD has confirmed that it has found a new drummer following the departure of Arin Ilejay earlier in the year.
Said AVENGED SEVENFOLD in a statement: “It has been brought to our attention that a lot of videos have been posted online from some pretty amazing drummers who want to try out for AVENGED SEVENFOLD. While we appreciate the overwhelming interest and support, we thought it would be the right thing to do to let everyone know that we already have someone. In fact, we have been working with this person for over a year now to make sure that it was a correct fit before making any sudden changes. When we have more to share, we will be sure to do that.”
Ilejay officially exited AVENGED SEVENFOLD in July after a four-year stint with the band. The group issued a statement saying, “Arin has been nothing but a positive energy and monster drummer for us over the past four years. We love the guy and always will. We are and will always be grateful to him for helping us to move forward through some very dark times. Creatively though, we felt we needed to move in a different direction.”
Ilejay has been the second drummer to sit behind the kit for AVENGED SEVENFOLD since the death of founding member James “The Rev” Sullivan in December 2009.
AVENGED SEVENFOLD recorded its 2010 effort “Nightmare” with ex-DREAM THEATER drummer Mike Portnoy, who was Sullivan’s favorite drummer.
Portnoy toured for several months with the band, but by early 2011, he was out. The group brought in Ilejay, who started out as a touring member but played on 2013’s “Hail To The King”, AVENGED’s second straight No. 1 album.
AVENGED SEVENFOLD has reportedly been working on material for its seventh album, but information has been scarce.
Source: Blabbermouth
