Dark Angel Guitarist Jim Durkin Dead at 58

According to a Facebook post made by his wife, Annie, Dark Angel guitarist Jim Durkin died on Wednesday, March 8.

“With a broken and heavy heart, I want to share that the love of my life, my best friend and husband, Jimmy, passed away Wednesday morning. He was not alone as I was with him along with a few close friends until the end. He will be truly missed and no one can ever replace the love I have for him. May he rest in peace.

“Ever Thine, Ever Mine, Ever Ours……. My Immortal Beloved. I will see you again.”

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.

Durkin was also a member of Dreams of Damnation, who released the album Epic Tales of Vengeance in 2006. He also released two demos with Pagan War Machine in the early aughts and played briefly with Los Angeles heavy metal outfit Ruthless. He was also a member of the pre-Dark Angel band Shellshock.

MetalSucks sends our condolences to Durkin’s family, friends and bandmates.