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By BRIAN GIFFIN

JIMMY Durkin, the guitarist with California thrash pioneers Dark Angel, has died at the age of 58.

Durkin’s passing was announced on Facebook by his wife on March 10, with the band making a statement a short time later:

“We in the Dark Angel family are deeply saddened and crushed today with the news of our brother and founder Jimmy Durkin passing away Wednesday morning. We would like to thank his fans for their continuous loyalty and support. We will come out with a full statement very soon. We ask that you please respect the family’s privacy while we mourn the loss of this great man.”

Durkin was an original member of the band and appeared on their first three albums – We Have Arrived, Darkness Descends and Leave Scars – before leaving in 1989. When the band reformed in 2013, Durkin returned to the fold. Lauren Christine had been filling in for him on tour for much of the past year.

Dark Angel had recently begun finalising the release of their first new album in 31 years.

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Brian Giffin

Author Brian Giffin

Brian Giffin is a metalhead, author, writer and broadcaster from the Blue Mountains in Australia. His life was changed forever after seeing a TV ad for 'The Number of the Beast' in 1982. During the 90s he wrote columns and reviews for Sydney publications On the Street, Rebel Razor, Loudmouth and Utopia Records' magazine. He was the creator and editor of the zine LOUD! which ran from 1996 until 2008, and of Loud Online that lasted from 2010 until 2023 when it unexpectedly spontaneously combusted into virtual ashes. His weekly community radio show The Annex has been going since 2003 on rbm.org.au. He enjoys heavy rock and most kinds of metal (except maybe symphonic power metal), whisk(e)y and beer.

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