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Shifty Shellshock, the lead singer of Crazy Town, has passed away at the age of 49. Born Seth Binzer, Shellshock was found dead at his Los Angeles home on Monday, June 24, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s office. No cause of death has been provided, and an investigation is ongoing.
Binzer co-founded Crazy Town with Bret "Epic" Mazur in 1995. The band achieved fame with their 2000 hit single "Butterfly," which topped the Billboard Hot 100 and propelled their debut album, "The Gift of Game", to No. 9 on the Billboard 200. Despite this early success, the band struggled to replicate it. Their second album, "Darkhorse", released in 2002, did not fare well, leading to the band's breakup.
Crazy Town later reformed, releasing "The Brimstone Sluggers" in 2015. Binzer also embarked on a solo career, releasing "Happy Love Sick" in 2004 and collaborating with English producer Paul Oakenfold on the 2002 hit single "Starry Eyed Surprise."
Throughout his career, Binzer was open about his struggles with substance abuse. He appeared on VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" and its follow-up series "Sober House". In 2012, he was sentenced to probation for battery and drug possession. "I would like to sincerely apologize to the parties involved," he told TMZ.
Crazy Town faced another tragedy in 2009 when former turntablist DJ AM, born Adam Goldstein, died of an accidental overdose. Goldstein had been with the band during their peak years.
Despite his personal and professional challenges, Binzer’s influence in the music industry was significant. "The Gift of Game" sold 1.5 million copies, and "Butterfly" became an anthem of the early 2000s. Fans expressed their grief and shared memories on his social media after his death.
