The band was formed in 1999 in Huntington Beach, California with original members M Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, The Rev and Matt Wendt. M Shadows came up with the name as a reference to the story of Cain and Abel from The Bible, although it is not a religious band.[clarification needed] Upon its formation, each member of the band also took on a pseudonym which were already nicknames of theirs from high school. Before release their debut album, the band recorded two demos in 1999 and 2000. Avenged Sevenfold's debut album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, was recorded when the band members were just eighteen years old and in high school. It was originally released on their first label,[clarification needed] Good Life Recordings in 2001. After lead guitarist Synyster Gates joined the band,at the end of 1999 when he was 18 at the introductory track "To End the Rapture" was re-recorded featuring a full band element. The album was subsequently re-released on Hopeless Records in 2002.
The band started to receive recognition, performing with bands such as Mushroomhead and Shadows Fall and playing on the Take Action Tour. Having settled on their fourth bassist, Johnny Christ, they released Waking the Fallen on Hopeless Records in August 2003. The band received profiles in Billboard and The Boston Globe, and played in the Vans Warped Tour. In 2004, Avenged Sevenfold toured again on the Vans Warped Tour and recorded a video for their song "Unholy Confessions" which went into rotation on MTV2's Headbanger's Ball. Shortly after the release of Waking the Fallen, Avenged Sevenfold left Hopeless Records and were signed to Warner Bros. Records.
My Chemical Romance [part2]
Current members
* Gerard Way — lead vocals
* Ray Toro — lead guitar, backing vocals
* Mikey Way — bass
* Frank Iero — rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2002–present)
* Bob Bryar — drums, percussion (2004–present)
Former members
* Matt Pelissier — drums, percussion (2001–2004)
Touring members
* James Dewees — keyboards, percussion (2007–2008)
Discography
Main article: My Chemical Romance discography
* I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (2002)
* Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004)
* The Black Parade (2006)
* Untitled Fourth Album (2009)
Awards and Nominations
# Grammy Award 2008 Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package - The Black Parade
# Kerrang! Award - Won for Best Band on the Planet in 2006
# Kerrang! Award - Won "Best International Band" in 2007
# Kerrang! Award - Won "Best Album" for Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and "Best Video" for "Helena" in 2005
# 2005 MTV Video Music Awards - Nominated for Best New Artist in a Video for "Helena"
# 2005 MTV Video Music Awards - Nominated for Best Rock Video for "Helena"
# 2005 MTV Video Music Awards - Nominated for Best Choreography in a Video for "Helena"
# TRL Italy Award - Nominated for Best New Artist
# TRL Award 2006 - Won for Best Group That Actually Plays
# MTV Asia Awards 2006 - Nominated for Favorite Rock Act
# MTV Asia Awards 2006 - Nominated for Favorite Breakthrough Artist
# MTV Asia Awards 2006 - Nominated for Favorite Video for "Helena"
# NME Awards - Won for "Best International Band" in 2007
# 15th Annual Music Video Production Awards - Won for Best colorist/telecine for "Helena" and Best Styling for "The Ghost of You"
* Gerard Way — lead vocals
* Ray Toro — lead guitar, backing vocals
* Mikey Way — bass
* Frank Iero — rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2002–present)
* Bob Bryar — drums, percussion (2004–present)
Former members
* Matt Pelissier — drums, percussion (2001–2004)
Touring members
* James Dewees — keyboards, percussion (2007–2008)
Discography
Main article: My Chemical Romance discography
* I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love (2002)
* Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge (2004)
* The Black Parade (2006)
* Untitled Fourth Album (2009)
Awards and Nominations
# Grammy Award 2008 Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package - The Black Parade
# Kerrang! Award - Won for Best Band on the Planet in 2006
# Kerrang! Award - Won "Best International Band" in 2007
# Kerrang! Award - Won "Best Album" for Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge and "Best Video" for "Helena" in 2005
# 2005 MTV Video Music Awards - Nominated for Best New Artist in a Video for "Helena"
# 2005 MTV Video Music Awards - Nominated for Best Rock Video for "Helena"
# 2005 MTV Video Music Awards - Nominated for Best Choreography in a Video for "Helena"
# TRL Italy Award - Nominated for Best New Artist
# TRL Award 2006 - Won for Best Group That Actually Plays
# MTV Asia Awards 2006 - Nominated for Favorite Rock Act
# MTV Asia Awards 2006 - Nominated for Favorite Breakthrough Artist
# MTV Asia Awards 2006 - Nominated for Favorite Video for "Helena"
# NME Awards - Won for "Best International Band" in 2007
# 15th Annual Music Video Production Awards - Won for Best colorist/telecine for "Helena" and Best Styling for "The Ghost of You"
