Doug Harrington (born Douglas M. Harrington 1966 - 2006) was an American] heavy metal guitarist. He was best known for being one of the lead guitarists for the thrash metal band Defiance throughout their entire recording career. Doug joined Defiance in 1984, left in 1985 and rejoined again the same year in an interesting turn of events where he and his replacement Jim Adams ended up sharing the lead guitar position. Doug was an integral member of Defiance as soon as he joined the band, composing the bulk of the bands music on all 3 of their albums, Product of Society, Void Terra Firma and Beyond Recognition. Over this time the band grew from a largely derivative 2nd-tier Bay Area thrash metal band to a more distinctive sound with elements of progressive metal and even doom metal in their thrash sound. Around 1993 Defiance folded and Harrington, along with his former bandmates Adams and bassist Mike Kaufmann formed a new band Inner Threshold with ex-Heathen vocalist Dave White. This band played a more groove oriented traditional metal style. After the departure of Adams and White Harrington formed Under, which also eventually folded after an EP. Harrington married his wife Adrianne around this time. Their daughter Grace was born around 2003. No longer a professional musician Harrington went back to school and became a carptenter working for Mike Kaufmann's father, Bill Kaufmann. He played in a cover band Fat Freddie's Cat which also featured Dave White, Mike Kaufmann and Jim Adams. Defiance reunited in 2004 with Harrington, Adams, Kaufmann, vocalist Steev Esquivel and new drummer James Raymond (later replaced by Mark Hernandez, but at the time Harrington was secretly battling cancer. Harrington spent the last few years of his life recording and writing for the new Defiance album, but sadly passed away in late 2006. Fans and friends and bandmates alike were deeply saddened and shocked by his passing. The remaining four members of Defiance have carried on as Harrington requested and the new album will be dedicated to him. A park bench in California was also dedicated to Harrington. Harrington is survived by his wife, daughter, brother Adam Harrington, sister Reva Kidd, his father Sherwood Harrington and his stepmother.
