Dark Angel

Band Members

Over the years, Dark Angel had a number of line-up changes. This section lists everyone who has been in the band, what role they had and which albums they appear on. These are presented in alphabetical order by last name.

Don Doty

[Thumbnail of Don Doty] Instrument
Vocals
Albums
We Have Arrived
Darkness Descends

Post-Dark Angel Work

Unknown. I have not been able to uncover anything about Don's whereabouts.

Jim Durkin

[Thumbnail of Jim Durkin] Instrument
Guitar
Albums
We Have Arrived
Darkness Descends
Ultimate Revenge II
Leave Scars

Post-Dark Angel Work

Jim and Gene Hoglan worked together on a project called Dreams Of Damnation after Dark Angel broke-up; they released a self-titled 7" EP in 1992. The track titles were:
  1. Dreams Of Damnation
  2. For God And Country
  3. No Friend Of Mine
Much more recently, Jim formed up the band Dreams Of Damnation (without Gene, who's in other projects now) and released an album called "Let The Violence Begin" on Necropolis Records. Check the site out for an MP3 preview!

If anyone can provide me with samples of these songs, please contact me!

In His Words

Here's the e-mail that Jim sent me recently in regards to the Dark Angel homepage:
From: Japromo1@aol.com
Date: Thu, 16 Dec 1999 17:36:51 EST
Subject: saw it

Hey Jeff ..

Jim Durkin here...saw the D.A web sight ...its awsome !
thanks for keeping the memory alive !

Jim Durkin

Brett Eriksen

[Thumbnail of Brett Eriksen][Thumbnail of Brett while member of Viking] Instrument
Guitar
Albums
Live Scars
Time Does Not Heal

Pre-Dark Angel Work

Before entering the Dark Angel fold, Brett played in Viking from 1986 until they disbanded in 1990. Ironically, the Dark Angel only did one studio album with Brett before they disbanded in 1992. In both cases, the band which Brett was in had a vocalist who left due to their new-found religious beliefs.

Mike Gonzalez

[Thumbnail of Mike Gonzalez] Instrument
Bass
Albums
Ultimate Revenge II
Leave Scars
Live Scars
Time Does Not Heal

Post-Dark Angel Work

Unknown. I have not been able to track down additional info on Mike.

Gene Hoglan

[Thumbnail of Gene Hoglan][Thumbnail of Hoglan in Perish In Flames shirt][Thumbnail of young Gene and his sister Lisa]
[Thumbnail of Gene drumming live #1][Thumbnail of Gene drumming live #2][Thumbnail of Gene drumming live #3]
Additional Photos Available
At HevyDevy Records Gallery.		 Instrument
Drums
Albums
Darkness Descends
Ultimate Revenge II
Leave Scars
Live Scars
Time Does Not Heal

Pre-Dark Angel Work

Gene was one of the lighting guys for Dark Angel in their earlier days.

Post-Dark Angel Work

Gene Hoglan worked with Jim Durkin on a project called Dreams Of Damnation, and released a self-titled 7" EP in 1992. Gene produced the EP himself. The track titles were:
  1. Dreams Of Damnation
  2. For God And Country
  3. No Friend Of Mine
If anyone can provide me with samples of these songs, please contact me!

After the demise of Dark Angel, Gene joined up with Testament for a while (working on their "Demonic" album and I believe he did some touring with them). He left Testament to team-up with Death, playing on their last two albums (Death's founder put the band on "hiatus" to pursue other projects). But our man Gene can't be beaten down! He joined up with new-comer Strapping Young Lad and has worked on their first two albums. Oh, and in between all that he still found time to beat the skins with Old Man's Child for their "Ill-Natured Spiritual Invasion" album in 1998.

I've also been told that Gene has played briefly on an album by Naphobias and was in a band named Wargod.

I saw a pre-release CD in an E-Bay auction which claimed to be a project of Gene's. The band name was Punchdrunk.

In His Words

From: genehoglan@aol.com
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 1998 15:30:16 EDT
Subject: DFA Homepage

Greetings Jeff! It's yer buddy Mean Gene here, attempting to send my very
first E-mail on my own. I just wanted to drop a word and tell ya that I
think you've done a smokin' job with the DFA page and to say thanks loads!

Eric Meyer

[Thumbnail of Eric Meyer][Thumbnail of young Eric Meyer] Instrument
Guitar
Albums
We Have Arrived
Darkness Descends
Ultimate Revenge II
Leave Scars
Live Scars
Time Does Not Heal

Post-Dark Angel Work

Eric worked with former Dark Angel vocalist Ron Rinehart on a project called Hunger. Released a demo in 1994, track titles include:
  1. Face First
  2. Hear The Pain
  3. Caged
Produced and recorded Transmetal's debut release entitled "Transmetal".

Eric also produced "Final Flight" by Recipients Of Death, release date unknown.

Most recently, Eric is now playing guitar in the new band SWiNE, which is performing in clubs around Orange County. No albums out yet but they're working on a demo according to the official website.

Ron Rinehart

[Thumbnail of Ron Rinehart][Thumbnail of Oil members] Instrument
Vocals
Albums
Ultimate Revenge II
Leave Scars
Live Scars
Time Does Not Heal

Post Dark Angel Work

In 1992, Ron left Dark Angel, shortly after becoming a born-again Christian. Keeping with his new faith, he joined forces with three other Christian metalheads to form Oil. That's the new band in the black-and-white picture. They released a self-titled EP around 1997 and their first full-length album (dubbed "Refined") was released in April, 2000.

Jack Schwartz

Photo Not
Available		 Instrument
Drums
Albums
We Have Arrived

Post-Dark Angel Work

After Dark Angel's first album, Jack left and founded Holy Terror with Kirt Colfelt from Agent Steel. He left before the release of their first album (Holy Terror would go on to release a second album before breaking up). Jack dabbled in a few projects afterwards but eventually ended up pursuing a career in Information Systems. He now manages a medium-sized IT department for an Aerospace company.

In His Words

From: the.cat@tkp.thekeep.net
Date: Sun, 31 Aug 1997 20:23:24 -0700
Subject: Grat Web Site... Well done

Dark Angel was a great part of my life. A lot of good times. We Have Arrived was
NOT my best drumming but I had a lot of fun recording it. (especially Welcome
To The Slaughterhouse). It's great to see the Web site up and it's nice to see
mention of Pre-Gene Hoglan Dark Angel. (Gene was actually our lighting guy at
the time)... Gene has made quite a contribution to Dark Angel and speed metal
in general and I'm happy for the band's success in its later years.

Enough miscellaneous ramblings...

Great Web site!
Keep up the good work!

Jack Schwartz
(Original Drummer of Dark Angel)

Rob Yahn

[Thumbnail of Rob Yahn] Instrument
Bass
Albums
We Have Arrived
Darkness Descends

Post-Dark Angel Work

Unknown at this time.

Band Photos

Some group shots of Dark Angel at various points in time.

[Group pic of Dark Angel]
Group shot from the "Leave Scars" album. From left to right: Eric Meyer, Ron Rinehart, Mike Gonzalez, Jim Durkin

[Thumbnail of final band line-up]
Final line-up, publicity photo. From Left to right: Mike Gonzalez, Ron Rinehart, Gene Hoglan, Brett Eriksen, Eric Meyer.
Click on image for larger, high-resolution version.

[Thumbnail of Doty, Durkin, and Yahn]
The early years, from re-released "We Have Arrived" album. From left to right: Don Doty, Jim Durkin, Rob Yahn.
Click on image for larger, high-resolution version.

Last Modified: January 4th, 2001
Jeff The Riffer aka Jeff Mercer / riffer@afn.org