He studied at the Musicians Institute in Hollywood as part of the gitaar Institute of Technology program, studying jazz and classical guitar. After a jaar of so of being there, he got a phone call from The Rev asking him if he wanted to kom bij his band, as lead guitarist. Haner joined rather than continuing his education and became a studio musician. Up until that time he was primarily self-taught door watching muziek videos and reading books. His father, Brian Haner, Sr., also known as "Guitar Guy," is a songwriter, guitarist and comedian. Gates is of Spanish, Cherokee and German descent.Avenged Sevenfold
Live in Norway, 2011
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". His name on Avenged Sevenfold's debut album was "Synyster Gates", M. Shadows on the album was simply "M. Shadows".
Gates became the band's lead guitarist. Since Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, the band has released 4 studio albums: Waking the Fallen, City of Evil, Avenged Sevenfold, 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 gitaar Magazine "Guitarist of the Year."[citation needed]
In the Avenged Sevenfold Special Edition of Revolver magazine that was released the same dag 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, [1] who died in December 2009. 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
