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"Fiction" is a song by the American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. It was released on their fifth studio album, Nightmare. The song was written by the band's original drummer Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan, who died in December 2009. The song is a duet between The Rev and singer M. Shadows.[1]

"Fiction"
Song by Avenged Sevenfold
from the album Nightmare
Released	July 23, 2010
Recorded	November 2009 – April 2010
Studio	The Pass (Los Angeles) Phantom (Westlake Village)
Length	5:08
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	The Rev
Producer(s)	Mike Elizondo

Background

On December 28, 2009, the Rev was found unresponsive in his Huntington Beach home, and was later pronounced dead upon arrival to the hospital.[2] Shortly after his death, Avenged Sevenfold dedicated their fifth studio album Nightmare to him.[3][4]

"Fiction" was the final song The Rev wrote.[5][6] Parts of "Fiction" were originally conceived by The Rev for Pinkly Smooth.[7] It was written only three days before his death,[8][3][4] under the title "Death".[9] M. Shadows and Synyster Gates stated in an interview to Hard Drive Radio:

"The eeriest thing about it is there is a song on the album called 'Fiction' [a nickname the Rev gave himself] which started out with the title 'Death.' And it was the last song The Rev wrote for the album, and when he handed it in, he said, 'That's it, that's the last song for this record.' And then, three days later, he died".[3]

Portions of the "Death" demo have leaked on YouTube.[10]

Recording

"Fiction" is one of only two songs featuring The Rev on Nightmare, although his writing and drum arrangements are featured on every song.[11] The song features The Rev on lead vocals, along with Shadows.[1] The Rev's favorite drummer, Mike Portnoy (then of Dream Theater) was brought on to finish drums on the album.[12] On this song specifically, Portnoy said he "had to play it exactly as (Jimmy) left it."[13] The song is the only Avenged Sevenfold song not to feature any guitar playing.[14]

Personnel

References

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