What Was Kirk Arrington's Cause of Death? Former Metal Church Drummer Dead at 61

Former Metal Church drummer Kirk Arrington has died. He was 61.

Metal Church lost another member less than two years after its singer, Mike Howe, died. The band confirmed, this time, that its former drummer has passed away.

Kirk Arrington Dead at 61: What Was His Cause of Death?

On Metal Church's official Facebook page, the band said its former drummer died at the age of 61. The same post revealed that Kirk Arrington died of a health-related issue.

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

Arrington passed away nearly four months since he celebrated his 61^st birthday. He left the band in 2006 amid his health struggles due to diabetes-related complications. Jeff Plate joined Metal Church afterward to officially replace him before W.A.S.P's Stet Howland took the position.

Before Arrington's death, Metal Church guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof revealed in a 2017 interview with Eonmusic that the band's supposed classic lineup reunion became ill-fated as the bandmates were forced into doing some things.

As for the reason why the reunion failed, he added - at that time - that David Wayne could not sing anymore because of his substance addiction. John Marshall was up to play, but Arrington already started struggling with his health.

Years after the failed reunion, Vanderhoof said they were still recovering from the awful and horrible feeling they garnered because of the tour.

Metal Church Loses Members

Arrington was not the first member to die in the past decades.

In 2021, Howe was found dead at his Eureka, California home due to asphyxia via hanging. Humboldt county sheriff's department's spokesperson told multiple news outlets that the authorities ruled his death a suicide.

Metal Church responded to the confirmation days after Howe's death and blamed the "failing healthcare system" as what caused his demise. The band also alleged he was "poisoned by the venom of Big Pharma," targeting the global pharmaceutical industry.

Howe, who was 55 at the time of his death, led Metal Church from 1988 to 1994 before joining the band again in April 2015.

Meanwhile, another Metal Church member David Wayne also died in May 2005. The singer passed away at the age of 47 from complications after a car crash.