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M Shadows

Some Facts About M Shadows

Shadows was formerly a member of a punk band called Successful Failure, during which time he penned the song Streets, later recorded by Avenged Sevenfold. Writes music when he feels strong emotions. Kicked out of catholic school in the 6th grade. Shadows was a promising athlete in high school (basketball). He was often in trouble with school officials. He has also been involved with the same girl since his high school days, her name is Valary DiBenedetto. He had minor surgery to repair a vocal strain, he has however spoken out on numerous occasions to dispute claims that surgery was responsible for the change in musical style. In fact Avenged Sevenfold's new sound is largely because of the bands ability to progress as artists since signing with major label Warner Brothers. Despite a hard partying and destructive image Shadows does not drink while on tour, and follows a strict diet and vocal exercise routine both to ensure the preservation of his voice. Has a set of Grills (vampire). Though he and the rest of the band did in fact vote for George W. Bush in the 2004 Presidential Election. Matt claims that he could not support John Kerry, for Kerry's lack of war initiative. Shadows feels a strong support for the troops serving the United States and has very close friends who are currently in service. The song "M.I.A." was written in tribute to these friends. 

Biography

Early years

In his youth, Matthew Charles Sanders was notorious for his disorderly conduct and misbehavior. He was kicked out of two different Huntington Beach schools, one for smashing a woman's car windows after a sixth-grade pizza party and another for defacing campus property in seventh grade with his friend Johnny DeGuzman. On the A7X DVD, while all of the members were talking about how they got their stage names, M. Shadows said that he got his name because when he attended and graduated El Modena High School and the band was just starting out, he was a darker kid (hence the name "Shadows") but he also wanted to incorporate his name, Matt, into his stage name. Matt was reduced to M and since has been known as M. Shadows.

 

Music career

In following years, Shadows formed a number of bands with Avenged Sevenfold's rhythm guitarist Zacky Vengeance. He was previously a member of a punk group called 'Successful Failure'. While in this band he penned the song "Streets," which would later be recorded after Avenged Sevenfold was formed, and released on their first album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet. Shadows feels a strong support for the troops serving the United States, having very close friends who are currently in service in Iraq. The song "M.I.A." ("Missing in Action") was written in tribute to these friends. The song "Gunslinger" from Avenged Sevenfold's self-titled album further expresses these feelings (though it was stated in the album's extra MVI that it's not just about troops - "it can be about anyone away from home, missing their families"). He is the only member from Avenged Sevenfold not to have the purple and red coffin on their right middle finger.

 

Vocal style

In the band's debut album, Sounding the Seventh Trumpet, M. Shadows' vocals had a heavy metalcore influence and consisted mostly of screaming and guttural roars. This style gradually decreased in later albums into more conventional clean singing and had been completely jettisoned by the release of City of Evil, the band's mainstream debut. The internet rumor that M. shadows had surgery on his throat is incorrect. In an interview on the All Excess DVD, Shadows stated that he had decided several years before the making of City of Evil that it would be an all singing album. He had made it clear to their producer, Mudrock, that the album they were working on at the time Waking the Fallen would be half singing and half screaming, and that the next would be all singing. Some of Shadows' biggest musical influences are Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Pantera, and Guns N' Roses. He is also very fond of Phil Anselmo's super group Down as well as strongly appreciating their first album NOLA .

Guest appearances

At current writing, M. Shadows premiered in 5 confirmed events:

"The River" by Good Charlotte (Vocal)

"Buffalo Stampede" by Cowboy Troy (Vocal)

"I Let Go by Eighteen Visions" (makes a short appearance in the video, no singing)

"Savior, Saint, Salvation" by Bleeding Through (Vocal)

Like Always by Kisses For Kings