Former CRIMSON GLORY frontman Midnight (real name John Patrick McDonald Jr.) passed away today (Wednesday, July 8) at 3:40 AM EST. He was 47 years old.

JON OLIVA'S PAIN/DOCTRINE guitarist Tom McDyne told BraveWords.com: "I was the first to arrive after his girlfriend at the hospital yesterday to visit Midnight and I may have been the last to speak to him while he was conscious (besides his family). Midnight was the most spiritual person I have ever met and he truly lived on another level than the rest of us. His mother told me an amazing story when Midnight was a child that reinforces what I just said. Midnight was an influence to countless around the world and I was lucky enough to be one of them. The world has lost one of its greatest talents. You will be missed my brother, but never forgotten."

Midnight is featured on Crimson Glory's first three albums: Crimson Glory (1986), Transcendence (1988) and Strange And Beautiful (1991). Shortly after the release of Strange And Beautiful, Midnight parted ways with the band.

On June 5th, 2004, the BW&BK; 6-Pack Weekend II in Cleveland held a rare acoustic performance with Midnight and Crimson Glory guitarist Ben Jackson who performed the classics 'Dragon Lady', 'Burning Bridges', 'In Dark Places', 'Painted Skies', 'Lost Reflection'.

In 2005, there were reports that Crimson Glory would unite and the band performed one show at the Rockwave festival in Greece on July 12, 2006.

In 2007 it was officially announced that Midnight had left the band again.

Last September, Midnight was gearing up for the release a new album entitled All Souls Midnight. It was set to feature the four tracks from his Acoustic Crimson EP and the lost Midnight Mass recordings from the late '80s/early '90s.