Vic Chesnutt, Avenged Sevenfold, Remy Zero Drummers Among Holiday Deaths

They say the holidays are full of good cheer, but this year they seemed unfortunately full of death. To avoid being overly morbid and writing multiple stories with dead-filled headlines, we're going to deal with all of these passings in one story.

Singer/songwriter Vic Chesnutt died of an overdose of muscle relaxers on Dec. 25 (Christmas Day). Chesnutt, 45, passed away after spending two days in a coma following the overdose.

Chesnutt was left partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair following a car accident when he was 18 years old. R.E.M. singer Michael Stipe discovered him and produced the folk singer's first two albums.

"He as able to bring levity to very dark emotions and feelings, and he had a humour that was really quite unusual," Stipe told NPR. "I said recently that I thought he was one of our greatest songwriters, and one of our greatest voices."

Chesnutt released 14 albums throughout his 19-year career and also put out two records under the brute. moniker. His most recent releases were 2009's At The Cut and Skitter On Take-Off. Chesnutt's work has been compared to the writing of Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner.

Avenged Sevenfold drummer Jimmy Owen "The Rev" Sullivan was found dead in his Huntington Beach, Calif. home the morning of Dec. 28. Firefighters were called to his house around 1 p.m. local time, according to The Orange County Register, and they found his body when they arrived.

"It is with great sadness and heavy hearts that we tell you of the passing today of Jimmy 'The Rev' Sullivan," Avenged Sevenfold wrote on their website Dec. 29. "Jimmy was not only one of the world's best drummers, but more importantly he was our best friend and brother."

Although Huntington Beach police Lieut. John Domingo said Sullivan, 28, appeared to have died of natural causes, an autopsy performed on his body Dec. 30 was inconclusive. Orange County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Jim Amormino told the Associated Press toxicology, microscopic and laboratory testing had been ordered to figure out why Sullivan died.

Sullivan founded Avenged Sevenfold with singer Matthew Charles "M. Shadows" Sanders, guitarist Zachary James "Zacky Vengeance" Baker and bassist Matt Wendt in 1999. Interestingly, Anti-Flag singer/guitarist Justin Sane handled bass duties for the metalcore group from 2000 to 2001.

Sullivan played on all of Avenged Sevenfold's releases, from their 2001 Sounding The Seventh Trumpet debut to their most recent album, 2007's Avenged Sevenfold.

Former Remy Zero drummer Gregory Slay passed away from cystic fibrosis on Saturday (Jan. 1).

Slay, 40, battled cystic fibrosis throughout his life and passed away "surrounded by his family," according to a statement on Remy Zero's website.

"We are so grateful for the time we were allowed with each other and for the wonderful opportunity to create with him for so many years," the band wrote. "Gregory inspired all who had the chance to see him perform, to hear the music that he made or just to be around his bountiful spirit. He will be greatly missed."

Slay founded Remy Zero in 1993 with singer/guitarist Cinjun Tate, guitarist/keyboardist/singer Shelby Ttate, bassist Cedric lemoyne and guitarist Jeffrey Cain. Remy Zero were invited to open for Radiohead on that band's tour in support of 1995's The Bends after Radiohead heard one of the band's demos.

Three studio albums — 1996's Remy Zero, 1998's Villa Elaine and 2001's The Golden Hum — followed before the band broke up in 2003.

Cystic fibrosis is a disease in which causes mucus build-up in the lungs, leading to severe breathing problems. Excess mucus in the lungs can cause frequent lung infection and inflammation and long-term damage to the lungs. It can also prevent enzymes from reaching the intestines, which can lead to digestive problems.

Canadian singer/songwriter Lhasa also passed away on Saturday after a 21-month struggle with lung cancer.