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Brian Elwin Haner, Jr., better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band Avenged Sevenfold. He joined founders Zacky Vengeance, The Rev, M. Shadows and Matt Wendt in late 1999. He was also the backing vocalist and guitarist of Pinkly Smooth, a side project he had with his late longtime friend, The Rev. The band's current bassist and drummer is Brooks Wackerman and Johnny Christ.
Early life[]
He is the son of musician, author, and comedian Brian Haner, Sr., who worked with Sam the Sham's band in the 1970s and has done session work for Avenged Sevenfold. Gates studied at the Musicians Institute in Los Angeles, California, as part of the Guitar Institute of Music program, studying jazz and classical guitar. Gates is of German and Spanish descent.