Kirk Arrington: Classic Metal Church drummer dead at 61

Kirk Arrington, the former drummer for Metal Church, has died at the age of 61.

Metal Church announced Arrington’s death on social media, writing:

“We just received the sad news, Kirk Arrington passed away this morning due to health issues. RIP in brother! See you on the other side….#RIP #legend #gonetoosoon #MetalChurch #drummer”.

Arrington joined the band in 1981 and made his recording debut on the Four Hymns tape in 1982, which was followed by another demo release the following year.

Arrington quit Metal Church in 2006 owing to health difficulties after years of diabetes treatment. He was initially replaced by Jeff Plate, a former member of Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and later by Stet Howland, a former member of W.A.S.P.

Unfortunately, all of the singers on Arrington’s albums (save 2004’s The Weight of the Earth) have died.

Mike Howe, who sang in Blessing In Disguise, The Human Factor, and Hanging in the Balance, died in 2021, and David Wayne, who appeared in Metal Church, The Dark, and Masterpeace, died in 2005.