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Biography
Infobox musical artist | name = Synyster Gates| image = Avenged-Sevenfold-BergenCalling-2011-Christian Misje-5654.jpg| caption = Synyster Gates live in Norway, 2011| image_size =| background = non_vocal_instrumentalist| birth_name = Brian Elwin Haner, Jr.| alias = Synyster Gates or Syn| Born = Birth date and age |1981|7|7|mf=y Huntington Beach , California , United States | death_date =| instrument = Guitar , vocals | genre = Heavy metal music|Heavy metal , metalcore , hard rock | occupation = Musician | years_active = 1999-present| label = Good Life Recordings , Hopeless Records|Hopeless , Warner Bros. Records|Warner Bros. , Bucktan| associated_acts = Avenged Sevenfold , Pinkly Smooth , Good Charlotte | website =| notable_instruments = Schecter Synyster Custom| Spouse = Michelle DiBenedetto (filing for divorce) Michelle is also M. Shadows wife Valary DiBenedetto's twin sister. Brian Elwin Haner, Jr. (Born July 7, 1981.), better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn , is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist of the American Heavy metal music|heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold .
Early life
unreferenced section|date=December 2011Haner attended Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California|Lakewood , but he later transferred and graduated from Huntington Beach High School in Huntington Beach, California .
He studied at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood as part of the Guitar Institute of Technology program, studying jazz and classical guitar. After a year or so of being there, he got a phone call from The Rev asking him if he wanted to join his band, as lead guitarist. Haner joined rather than continuing his education and becoming a studio musician. Up until that time he was primarily self-taught by watching music videos and reading books. His father, Brian Haner|Brian Haner, Sr. , also known as "Guitar Guy," is a songwriter, guitarist and comedian. Gates is of Spanish people|Spanish , Cherokee and Germans|German descent.
Avenged Sevenfold
Gates joined Avenged Sevenfold together with his best friend, The Rev, when they were 18 in 1999, right after the recording of the band's first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet . He was featured on the EP Warmness on the Soul which contains select songs from the first album as well as Synyster's new version of "To End The Rapture". He's name on Avenged Sevenfolds' debut album was "Synyster Gates", M. Shadows on the album was simply known as "Shadows".
Gates became the band's lead guitarist. After Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, the band has released 4 studio albums: Waking the Fallen , City of Evil , Avenged Sevenfold (album)| Avenged Sevenfold , Nightmare (Avenged Sevenfold album)| Nightmare and a live DVD/CD Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough .
On the Avenged Sevenfold DVD All Excess , Gates claimed that his name was created on a drunken drive through the park with The Rev .
He has won numerous awards, including the 2006 Metal Hammer "Young Shredder" award and the 2006 Total Guitar Magazine "Guitarist of the Year."Citation needed|date=April 2011 In Revolver (magazine)|Revolver magazine, the Avenged Sevenfold special edition that was released the same day as the Nightmare album, Gates stated that he originally started out writing the song "So Far Away" in honor of his grandfather. However, the song is now primarily about Gates' former band mate, The Rev . http://deathbatnews.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/synyster-gates-talks-pinkly-smooth-and-more-with-binaural/ On April 20, 2011, Gates won the Revolver Golden God award for Best Guitarist along with band mate, Zacky Vengeance . Avenged Sevenfold picked up numerous other awards and delivered the headlining performance of the night. http://www.revolvermag.com/news/exclusive-interview-avenged-sevenfolds-synyster-gates-talks-the-revolver-golden-gods.html
Pinkly Smooth
Haner, along with The Rev, played in an avant-garde metal band named Pinkly Smooth . Formed in the summer of 2001 in Huntington Beach , California , the band featured ex-Ballistico members Buck Silverspur on bass and D-Rock on drums. The band has released one album, Unfortunate Snort on Bucktan Records, which features a crossover sound of mostly Punk rock|punk , ska and Avant-garde music|avant-garde . Former Avenged Sevenfold bassist Justin Meacham played keyboards and piano on the album. There was speculation that Pinkly Smooth was going to produce another record, but due to the death of The Rev, it is highly unlikely that they will produce any more material. However, Synyster Gates has said that he would consider remastering the tracks from Unfortunate Snort and re-releasing the album. http://deathbatnews.wordpress.com/2010/12/09/synyster-gates-talks-pinkly-smooth-and-more-with-binaural/
Featured guest appearances
Bleeding Through 's " Portrait of the Goddess|Savior, Saint, Salvation ," track (with M. Shadows).
Good Charlotte 's " The River (Good Charlotte song)|The River " track and music video (with M. Shadows).
Burn Halo 's " Burn Halo (album)|Dirty Little Girl " track and music video.
Burn Halo 's "Anejo" track.
Brian Haner 's "Blow-Up Doll" music video.
The Jeff Dunham Show intro song (with his father).
Equipment
Guitars
Synyster Gates uses mainly Schecter Guitars . Schecter Guitar Research has been sponsoring him and he has signature Avenger models. He has also been seen using ESP guitars when A7X was recording Waking The Fallen and City Of Evil .
Schecter Synyster Gates Signature Special model with Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invaders and Sustainiac neck pickup sustainer
Schecter Synyster Gates Signature Custom models with Seymour Duncan SH-8 Invaders and Sustainiac neck pickup sustainer
Schecters custom models with Rebel flag, American flag, German flag, Black with Red Stripes, Red with Black Stripes, White with Gold Stripes, one featuring Jack Nicholson's Joker art and color scheme, and one with Tune-O-Matic Bridge.
Schecter Synyster Gates Custom with "REV" inlays on fret board instead of "SYN" featured on the So Far Away music video
Schecter Synyster Gates Custom Prototype
Schecter Synyster Special Prototype
Schecter Synyster Deluxe Prototype
Schecter Synyster Special
Schecter Synyster Deluxe
Schecter Avenger
Schecter C-1 Classic - Transparent Blue
Schecter Custom C-1 FR
Schecter Hellraiser C-1 FR
Schecter PT Fastback
Schecter S-1 loaded with Seymour Duncan JBs
Schecter Banshee
Gibson Les Paul in arctic white, this was used in the video for Unholy Confessions
Avenged Sevenfold Persondata | NAME =Gates, Synyster | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Haner Jr., Brian Elwin | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =July 7, 1981 | PLACE OF BIRTH = | DATE OF DEATH = | PLACE OF DEATH = DEFAULTSORT:Gates, Synyster Category:American rock guitarists Category:Musicians from California Category:1981 births Category:Living people Category:Avenged Sevenfold members Category:American musicians of German descent Category:Lead guitarists Category:American heavy metal guitarists
