Brian Elwin Haner was born on the 7th of July and is better known as Synyster Gates, his stage name; he is the lead guitarist and the backup vocalist of Avenged Sevenfold, an American hard rock band/ heavy metal. He attended the Musicians Institute situated in Hollywood after attending 2 different schools in California. Despite the fact that he did not graduate from this institute, music flowed through his veins. He had taught himself the rudiments of music by reading books and viewing music videos prior to joining Musicians Institute.

This comes across a surprise since his father was guitar player and also a songwriter who had played with Frank Zappa. After attending the Institute for roughly six months, Synyster, who prefers to use Bogner amps and Schecter guitars, received a phone call from The Rev of Avenged Sevenfold and was asked if he was willing to join that group as their lead guitarist. Preferring to pursue the career of a studio musician, Synyster forsake his education and joined Avenged Sevenfold.

He had joined this group when he was just 18 years of age towards the end of the year 1999. This was immediately before the recording of Avenged Sevenfold’s 1st album titled `Sounding the Seventh Trumpet’. Synyster featured on the EP of Avenged Sevenfold, `Warmness of the Soul’ and also on the re-release of the first album of that group. At certain moments, Synyster also plays the piano for a few selected songs. The name Synyster Gates was thought by The Rev during the course of a drunken drive. Some of the members of his band alleged that Synyster had often thought of himself as too good a player for that type of band, but these thoughts were brushed aside by Synyster.

This famous guitarist had also played for Pinkly Smooth, a metal band, along with The Rev. Both of them wanted to devote all their time behind Avenged Sevenfold and therefore they finally left this group. Synyster Gates has won quite a number of awards like the Total Guitar Magazine’s guitarist of the year award in 2006 and also the `Young Shredder’ award in 2006. He has also featured in guest appearances in music videos like Dirty Little Girl (Burn Halo) and `The River’ (Good Charlotte). Synyster Gates is also endorsed by Schecter guitars and there are two different versions of his signature model.