Shifty Shellshock, the frontman for Crazy Town, died of an accidental overdose after years of struggling with addiction, according to the band’s manager.
Howie Hubberman, who manages the rap rock group, explained that Shellshock — whose real name is Seth Binzer — died after taking a deadly “combination of prescription drugs and street purchased drugs,” he told People Thursday.
“Seth Binzer, after struggling with addiction and Crazy Town’s rapid success with ‘Butterfly,’ never was able to reach out on a more successful level to deal with his addictions,” Hubberman told the outlet.
“We all tried, but ultimately we all failed, or Shifty would still be here.”
Hubberman called the troubled rocker a “friend” he wished he could have “fixed,” but “unfortunately, no one had the exact tools to do this, myself included.”
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has yet to officially reveal the singer’s cause of death after confirming he died on Monday. He was 49 years old.
A toxicology report is still pending, according to People.
Shellshock, who battled addiction for years, passed away at his residence in Los Angeles.
The Crazy Town frontman posted several cryptic messages on social media two months before his death.
Shellshock’s struggles with addiction were put on display to the public when he appeared on Seasons 1 and 2 of “Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew.”
While featured on the reality show, the frontman spoke about his battle with being addicted to cocaine when he first appeared on the show. The “Revolving Door” singer returned for Season 2 after he relapsed.
He was addicted to stimulants during his second stint on the show.
The musician also appeared on both seasons of the “Celebrity Rehab” follow-up show, “Sober House,” in 2009 and 2010.
Crazy Town was formed in 1995 by Shellshock and fellow rapper Bret “Epic” Mazur.
Other members included DJ Rick One, Mark White, Adam Bravin, Charles Lopez, and more.
The group blew up with their 2000 single “Butterfly.”
The song peaked at No. 1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 for two nonconsecutive weeks.
Carol Dennis is an entertainment aficionado with an eye for all things pop culture. She dives into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry, from movie premieres to music festivals. Carol’s passion for storytelling extends beyond her reporting, as she’s an aspiring screenwriter in her free time.
