New Kid

Introduction

I was so sure that I'd be okay.

Let me explain, my name is Zachary James Baker, better known as Zacky Vengeance of Avenged Sevenfold. I'm the rhythm guitarist. I'd like to think I'm pretty good, since I'm self taught.

For the longest time in our band, the rest of the guys and I were pretty satisfied with just me on guitar. I loved it. I had always dreamed about being in a band, being with my best friends, touring, but I never thought we'd end up as one of the most influential metal bands in the world. It was crazy when we finally got signed to a record label.

Then, one day.. Jimmy and Matt introduced another guitarist into the band. His name was Brian Elwin Haner, junior. We immediately hated each other. His lead guitars were so much better than anything I could ever do, and I think that's what really made me spite him. The guys praised him like he was some kind of guitar God or something, and they were right, he is. He always has been. His dad taught him some stuff here and there, but when Brian learned the ropes, his skills and hard work immediately took over.

I remember the day like it was yesterday.

"Guys, Jimmy and I have an announcement that we think you should hear.." Matt said gently as all four of us sat in his garage, writing material for our first album. Justin and I raised our eyebrows on the other side of the fold-out picnic table, and I put my pencil down to give both Matt and Jimmy my full attention.

"Well, Matt and I were talking, and we thought it might be a good change up if we added someone to the band.." Jimmy continued Matt's sentence. "We want to see about adding another guitarist to kind of balance things out." My heart stopped. I looked down at my lap, tears springing to my eyes. Did they think I wasn't doing a good enough job?

"So, is it just because I suck at guitar?" I snapped, looking up at Jimmy and Matt with a thrust of my head, making Justin nearly jump out of his skin next to me. "Because, y'know, if that's the fuckin' case-"

"Zack!" Jimmy snapped during the middle of my sentence, and I jolted a little bit at the sound of his angry voice. I had never heard him snap, much less at me. "That is not why we're adding another guitarist. We want to do it because we figured it'd take some of the pressure off of you, dude." He said in a much gentler tone, his crystal blue eyes softening with the last few words.