Johnny Christ

For the former Danzig guitarist, see John Christ. For the Hollywood Rose guitarist with a similar name, see Johnny Kreis.

Johnny Christ
File:Avenged Sevenfold-Rock im Park 2014 by 2eight 3SC7915.jpg Johnny Christ performing in 2014
Background information
Birth name	Jonathan Lewis Seward
Also known as	Johnny Christ
Born	(1984-11-18) November 18, 1984 Huntington Beach, California, U.S.
Genres	Heavy metal, hard rock, metalcore
Occupation(s)	Musician, bassist
Instruments	Bass, vocals
Years active	2003–present
Labels	Warner Bros., Hopeless
Associated acts	Avenged Sevenfold

Johnny Christ, (born Jonathan Lewis Seward ; November 18, 1984) is the bassist of the American heavy metal band Avenged Sevenfold. Johnny is the fourth bassist to join Avenged Sevenfold in 2003, replacing former member Dameon Ash.

Biography

Jonathan Seward attended Marina High School in Huntington Beach, California. He proceeded through high school and formally met M. Shadows, Zacky Vengeance, Synyster Gates and Jimmy "The Rev" Sullivan. Despite not being in the band at the time, Seward already knew Gates and Sullivan, then soon after met Shadows and Zacky. Following the departure of Dameon Ash in 2002, he took the position as Avenged Sevenfold's bassist, as he had played the bass with the band whenever Dameon could not attend. Johnny could pick up on the pace of a song that he did not know quite quickly and proved to be a unique bass guitarist. "I don't think any one out there could pick up a bass line as quick as Johnny" were the words from the Rev. Johnny was also friends with Zacky's younger brother Matt Baker formerly from the band The Dear & Departed. In May 2009, he participated in the Gumball 3000 rally.

Musical career

File:Avenged Sevenfold-Rock im Park 2014 by 2eight 3SC7643.jpg

Johnny Christ on Nova Rock 2014

Seward initially took a few weeks off from high school during his senior year to fill in for Avenged Sevenfold's previous bassist, Dameon Ash, during one of their tours because he went on tour with Avenged Sevenfold as a roadie. Those few weeks would become permanent as he dropped out of high school to become the band's current bassist.

He first recorded on their second album Waking the Fallen. He used to write only Johnny on his autographs until Zacky Vengeance came up with the name "Johnny Christ", and in All Excess he said, "That sounds... really ballsy. Everyone's gonna hate that, so... I should definitely go with that." He resides in Huntington Beach, Orange County.

In the time since the release of Hail to the King, Seward has begun singing more backup vocals on live shows (as well as screaming) on songs like Critical Acclaim, Nightmare, Seize the Day, God Hates Us, Not Ready to Die and Shepherd of Fire.

Stage equipment

Bass Guitar

• Schecter Johnny Christ Signature Bass
• Ernie Ball Music Man StingRay Bass
• Ernie Ball Musicman 30th Anniversary Stingray Bass with Seymour Duncan Basslines SMB-4D, SJB-3n

Discography

Main article: Avenged Sevenfold discography

• Waking the Fallen (2003)
• City of Evil (2005)
• Avenged Sevenfold (2007)
• Live in the LBC & Diamonds in the Rough (2008)
• Nightmare (2010)
• Hail to the King (2013)