Dark Angel announce shows, pay tribute to Jim Durkin

West Coast thrash metal vets Dark Angel have announced special shows in LA and NY, which will see the band dishing out a full performance of their 1986 album ‘Darkness Descends.’ The band will also hit the road for festival dates this spring and summer, see all dates below.

Dark Angel Darkness Descends 2023:
April 14, 15 & 16 – Los Angeles – Teragram Ballroom w/ Evil Dead * [TIX]
June 3 – NYC – Irving Plaza w/ Prong, Whiplash and Ready for Death * [TIX]
*performing Dark Angel’s 1986 album Darkness Descends in full

Dark Angel festival dates:
May 26 – Milwaukee, WI – Milwaukee Metal Fest
June 10 – Gdansk Stocznia, Poland – Mystic Festival
June 17 – Dessel, Belgium – Graspop Metal Meeting
June 18 – Clisson, France – Hellfest
July 13 – Gävle – Gasklockorna, Sweden – Gefle Metal Festival

Dark Angel’s upcoming shows will also serve as a tribute to their founding guitarist Jim Durkin, who sadly died on March 8th, 2023 .

Dark Angel recently released the following statement regarding Jim’s passing:
“On Thursday March 9, everyone in the Dark Angel family was notified of Jimmy Durkin’s passing on Wednesday morning, March 8. Jim Durkin was the founder of Dark Angel, a major contributor to the music and was one of the founding fathers of thrash. He was known as the master of the riff with some of the most memorable and evil thrash riffs ever. Jim Durkin was family to all of the Dark Angel camp and will be deeply missed.

Jim had been sitting out Dark Angel shows due to personal matters since 2020. Jim requested Laura Christine as his replacement, and she has joined us at the more recent Dark Angel appearances, as he’d requested that we keep it in the family.

Dark Angel will continue to perform and record in Jim’s memory and preserve his legacy, as he requested before his passing.”

Dark Angel drummer Gene Hoglan issued a personal note of his own:
“I miss you so much, my Brother. I never quite know how to grieve anymore. Had I known that our last few times together would be our last times together, I would have cherished them more. And you even more, Jim. You were my original guitar hero, my biggest influence, a truly inspirational legend to me and so many others. Had I, or any of us, only known that you’d be taken from us so suddenly, we would not have let you leave us…So suddenly. On tour, in my bunk, tears. Onstage, behind my kit, tears. Backstage, the thousand-yard stare. Tears. Realizing we’ll never share the stage in this physical plane again…the greatest void. You chose The Unicorn yourself to fill that void. Only now am I beginning to grasp the complexity and graciousness of your monumental gift. My love for you gives me strength to get through this. And you are so beloved by everyone who knows you, Jim. Everyone. I sure hope you feel this. Your spirit will eternally live on, Brother. Onstage, with us, your wings will always be right where they belong, on stage right. In life, you’ll always be in our hearts, right where you belong. At the front.

Annie, Ron, Eric, Michael, Laura, Rob, and all of your friends and family love and miss you so much, Jimmy. I love you, Brother.”

Vocalist Ron Rinehart posted his own feelings:
“Jimmy D was the very first person that I met in Dark Angel. Right from the start he was busting my balls! When I first spoke to Jimmy we were talking about the band that I had just left. Jimmy said “we saw your band, they suck but we loved you!” I laughed. Another great memory I have was at a Metallica and Suicidal Tendencies show. Someone told Jimmy., “I don’t like you when you’re drunk”, and without skipping a beat, Jimmy answers, “I don’t like you when I’m sober”. I almost swallowed my tongue. I can’t count the times where I would end up spitting something out of my nose!!! Jimmy would just laugh! He had the best sense of humor. From day one… we were Brothers… Yesterday, today and forever Jimmy will always be my Brother!!! Until we meet again!! I Love you”

Guitarist Eric Meyer added:
“Jimmy Jimmy Jimmy. You and I go way back. I remember when I first joined DA and you would come over to my house to teach me songs. We’d sit out in the garage and run through the Darkness Descends set. I was with you the very first time you met Annie and fell in love with her from the moment you saw her. I was there when you married her. We have shared so many moments together that are just indescribable. I will miss you forever my friend, my brother, my family. Until we meet again, you will always be such a huge part of my life. Good bye… for now.”

Guitarist Laura Christine leaves us with the following:
“At the California Death Fest in 2018, Jim Durkin took me aside and said that he would be stepping down from playing live, and that he wanted me to take over his live duties for Dark Angel.

Coming from one of my guitar heroes this was a major shock, followed by a mixed array of emotions. I felt honored yet greatly concerned for my hero. Nobody wants to see their guitar hero step down, let alone leave this earth. It’s a very heavy thing for me to digest. I love and greatly respect Jimmy and his playing so much, and it is a tremendous, immense honor to be chosen and encouraged by him to fill his spot. I will do my best to honor Jim and help preserve not only my friend’s memory, but also the Dark Angel legacy.”

Jimmy’s wife, Annie Durkin, recently launched a GoFundMe campaign to help with Jim’s medical expenses and memorial. If you think you can help out, head over here.

Artist photo by Alex Solca