Avenged Sevenfold Dish on Status of Drummer, Uproar Setlist

Avenged Sevenfold have been playing with drummer Arin Ilejay since the beginning of this year, but aren’t quite ready to officially induct him into the A7X fold. Singer M. Shadows says that will happen only after they sit down and try composing music together.

“As far as personality and his playing, he's our guy, but we haven't been able to write a record with him yet,” Shadows tells Billboard.com. “So, we want to make sure for his good and for our good that he can write with us and bring something to the creative and be comfortable in the situation . . . hopefully everything works out 'cause we love the guy."

Ilegay took over on drums after Dream Theater stickman Mike Portnoy filled in for original drummer James 'The Rev' Sullivan, who died in 2009 from a lethal mix of prescription drugs and alcohol.

Speaking of Ilejay, he’ll be playing inside the mouth of a 17-by-40-foot version of Avenged Sevenfold’s "death bat" logo "that catches on fire and shots flames and all sorts of fun stuff” when the band headlines the Rockstar Energy Drink Uproar Festival, which kicks off tonight (Aug. 26) in Camden, N.J. "It's a very sort of Spinal Tap, over-the-top metal-looking show," Shadows says of their stage setup for Uproar.

The pyrotechnical display is just one surprise AX7 have planned for the trek. Another is a different setlist every night, selected from a tally of songs that fans voted for during a month-long poll in the band's website. "We're picking the top 20 songs and we're mixing it up every night so no one knows what set they're going to get on any given night on the tour," promises the singer. "It's gonna be cool for the fans."

As previously reported, Avenged Sevenfold plan on taking an extended break after they complete their touring cycle next year for their most recent album, 'Nightmare.'