Shifty Shellshock, the iconic frontman of the rap rock sensation Crazy Town, whose voice soared in the chart-topping hit "Butterfly," has passed away at the age of 49. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's report, Seth Binzer, Shellshock's birth name, breathed his last breath at his home on Monday, with the cause of death still under wraps.
Shellshock and Crazy Town's co-founder, Bret Mazur, crossed paths in 1992, initially forming the Brimstone Sluggers. But by 1999, they had evolved into Crazy Town, a collective that included Rust Epique, James Bradley Jr. (better known as JBJ), Doug Miller, Adam Goldstein (alias DJ AM), and Antonio Lorenzo "Trouble" Valli. Their debut album, "The Gift of Game," released in November 1999, catapulted them into the mainstream, and they soon toured alongside the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
October 2000 marked a milestone for Crazy Town as they released "Butterfly," a track that seamlessly fused Shellshock's laid-back rapping style with the groovy beats of the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "Pretty Little Ditty." The song soared to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, dominating the charts for two non-consecutive weeks and becoming the band's defining anthem.
However, following the release of their second album, "Darkhorse" in 2002, Crazy Town's star began to fade, and the band ultimately disbanded. Shellshock then embarked on a solo journey, collaborating with Paul Oakenfold on the hit "Starry Eyed Surprise," which peaked at No. 41 on the charts in 2002. In 2004, he released his first solo album, "Happy Love Sick," which garnered moderate success in Europe.
Shellshock was never shy about sharing his struggles with addiction, appearing on several reality shows, including two seasons of VH1's "Celebrity Rehab" and its follow-up "Sober House." In 2012, he faced a life-threatening situation, losing consciousness and slipping into a coma before miraculously recovering. More recently, in 2022, he was arrested for a DUI.
Shellshock leaves behind a legacy of musical genius and a loving family, including his three children, Halo, Gage, and Phoenix.
