Jim Durkin, guitarist of thrash metal veterans Dark Angel, has died aged 58.
The news was confirmed by his wife Annie, who called him “my beloved immortal”.
She wrote: “With a broken and heavy heart, I want to share that the love of my life, my best friend and husband, Jimmy, passed away on Wednesday morning,” Annie wrote. “He was not alone as I was with him with some 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. Always yours, always mine, always ours… My beloved immortal. I will see you again. “
Dark Angel also paid tribute to Durkin, writing on social media: “We in the Dark Angel family are deeply saddened and crushed today by the news that our brother and founder Jimmy Durkin passed away on Wednesday morning.
“We would like to thank his fans for their continued loyalty and support. We will be releasing a full statement very shortly. We ask that you please respect the privacy of the family as we mourn the loss of this great man.
We of the Dark Angel family are deeply saddened and shocked today by the announcement of our brother and founder Jimmy Durkin…
Posted by Dark Angel Official on Friday March 10th, 2023
Durkin was a founding member of Dark Angel (as Shellshock) in 1981, before being known by his current name from 1983.
Alongside Metallica and Slayer, they became a staple of California thrash metal in the 1980s and 1990s.
Durkin performed with Dark Angel until his death, with the band breaking up in 1992 before reuniting between 2002 and 2005 and then again from 2013 until today.
The band’s most popular album was released in 1986 with “Darkness Descends”. Drummer Gene Hoglan said last year that the band was lining up a new album for release in 2023. Live concerts are also planned for later this year, but it’s currently unknown if they will be canceled following the death of Durkin.