Shifty Shellshock, Crazy Town Band Member, Dead At 49
Shifty Shellshock, real name Seth Binzer, has died at age 49. According to the LA County Medical Examiner, the Crazy Town frontman died at his home on June 24. The cause of death has yet to be released.
Crazy Town had a bumpy journey in the music world. The rap/rock band's 1999 debut album, "The Gift of Game," was met with a lukewarm reception, and amid a wealth of personal problems, they were on the verge of quitting a year after the album's release. However, everything changed in 2001 when the track "Butterfly" skyrocketed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts and became a global success.
Shifty Shellshock's death left fans and friends devastated
Despite the success of "Butterfly," Crazy Town became one of the noughties' one-hit wonders after their follow-up album, "Darkhorse," flopped. They attempted a comeback after a hiatus, releasing "The Brimstone Sluggers" in 2015. Still, the band failed to replicate their initial success. Meanwhile, as memories of the band faded, Seth "Shifty Shellshock" Binzer stayed in the headlines due to his struggles with addiction. The musician's substance abuse disorder played out in public as the star appeared in "Celebrity Rehab" in addition to Dr. Drew's spin-off show "Sober House."
In April 2024, Binzer shared his happiness at finally being sober in a post on Instagram. "I'm a lover than [sic] a fighter ...but the one I need to love more Instead of fight with is myself .. mr shifty true Love # Sober alive and grateful," he captioned a photo of himself standing on graffiti-covered concrete in his sneakers.
Tributes flooded in following the news of Binzer's death. "[R]ip Seth. Thanks for sharing your art with the world, thank you for allowing me to do vocals those few times, and especially thanks for always being a friend. RIP," a fellow musician shared on Instagram. "This absolutely broke my heart.. God damn it Seth why..... you've been in my life since we were kids.. damn, you just broke a lot of hearts.. rest in peace old friend love you," another shared. Binzer is survived by three sons, Halo, Gage, and Phoenix.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA's National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).