Wife of Dark Angel’s Jim Durkin Launched a GoFundMe to Cover Medical and Funeral Costs
Over the weekend, the metal community was shocked and saddened by the untimely death of Dark Angel guitarist Jim Durkin, who passed away on Wednesday, March 8. He was 58 years old. Unfortunately, we live in a capitalist hellhole where even dying is expensive, so his wife Annabelle has set up a GoFundMe page to cover his “final arrangements and medical bills.”
According to the page, the family is looking to make sure the bills get paid, with any additional money going to making Durkin’s home a place for bands to crash as they make their way through Los Angeles. In the accompanying post, written by Annabelle and Evildead bassist Karlos Medina, described the kind of man Durkin really was, calling him a “gentle giant with an incredible singing voice who would stop everything to move an injured animal — insect, bird, reptile, mammal — out of harm’s way.”
On Wednesday, March 8th, 2023, the worldwide metal community lost a TITAN of thrash metal: JIM DURKIN of DARK ANGEL.
While best known for creating ear-blistering, adrenaline-inducing, soul-slaughtering guitar riffs and writing songs that would become legendary in a genre of metal that his band helped create, he was also a gentle giant with an incredible singing voice who would stop everything to move an injured animal — insect, bird, reptile, mammal — out of harm’s way.
Humble to his core, he never understood why anyone made a fuss about him. It is inconceivable, unjust, and utterly devastating for a human being as beautiful as Jim to be taken from us. He will always remain a shining example of the tenacity of the human spirit.
Jim’s wife of 34 years, Annie Durkin, is shattered at her sudden loss. She needs assistance to cover the costs of her husband’s final arrangements and medical bills. Any additional funds will go toward keeping the home that has been an oasis of hospitality for so many touring musicians passing through Los Angeles.
We are grateful to anyone moved to donate. Contributions of any amount would be deeply appreciated. Your shared memories, photos, and words of support will provide much-needed solace in this time of incredible sorrow.
Thank you all for your love, kindness, and compassion.
Durkin had sat out recent gigs. Guitarist Laura Christine, who also plays with Nukem and Warface, has been filling in for him. The guitarist was with Dark Angel from 1983-1989 and again from 2013 until 2023. He played on band’s full-length albums We Have Arrived, Darkness Descends and Leave Scars.
Dark Angel were in the process of working on a new studio album and currently have three announced performances of their 1986 classic, Darkness Descends, in full. No word on what will happen with those gigs yet.
It’s hard to even fathom the amount of grief Durkin’s surviving friends, family, bandmates, and loved ones are feeling right now. In total, the page is looking to raise $39,000, which is pretty low considering how insanely high healthcare costs can be in the U.S.
So if you can swing it, be sure to give the GoFundMe page a look and consider donating. Any amount will help.
