In Memory of DARK ANGEL Guitarist Jim Durkin (1965-2023)

James Durkin (February 7, 1965 - March 8, 2023)

According to Metal Archives, Jim Durkin was a founding guitarist of the thrash metal band Dark Angel and a primary songwriter during the band's formative years. He performed on the group's first three studio albums: We Have Arrived (1985), the highly influential Darkness Descends (1986), and Leave Scars (1989). Although he left the band in 1989, he participated in a brief reunion in 2002 and rejoined officially in 2013, remaining a member until his passing. Outside of Dark Angel, he was the founding guitarist for Dreams of Damnation, releasing the full-length album Epic Tales of Vengeance in 2006, and contributed guest solos to bands such as Army of Darkness. Jim Durkin passed away at the age of 58 on March 8, 2023, following a period of illness later identified as severe liver disease. Though he had been inactive from live performances since 2020 for personal reasons, he remained an official member of Dark Angel, and his final songwriting contributions appear posthumously on the 2025 album Extinction Level Event. Following his death, the band announced they would continue in his memory, with guitarist Laura Christine taking his place at his prior request.

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