Image credit: VH1
Mike Starr, the former bassist for the Seattle grunge band Alice in Chains, was found dead today at his home in Salt Lake City. A spokesperson for the Salt Lake City police department said that officers responded to a 911 call from Starr’s apartment at about 1:40 p.m., where they pronounced the rocker dead. Police are still investigating the cause of death, though they’ve ruled out foul play and said there “was nothing glaring [at the scene] that would immediately indicate [a drug overdose].” The Utah Medical Examiner will conduct an autopsy, but its results typically take at least a month.
Starr, who was 44, played with Alice in Chains from its formation in 1987 until 1993, including on its multi-platinum albums Facelift (1990) and Dirt (1992), which spawned hit songs like “Man In the Box,” “Would?” and “Rooster.” Starr later said his departure from the group was due to his struggle with heroin addiction, and he appeared on the third season of VH1′s Celebrity Rehab in 2010. He was arrested last month for illegal possession of prescription drugs.
In a statement, bandmates Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney said, “Jerry and Sean are mourning the loss of their friend and ask that the media respect their privacy — and the privacy of Mike’s family — during this difficult time. Their thoughts & prayers are with the Starr family.”
Other rockers paid their respects on Twitter:
“RIP Mike Starr. Another fallen Soldier to addiction..:(” — Mötley Crüe’s Nikki Sixx
“Drugs and alcohol aren’t a joke. Please take care of yourself and respect yourself. We lost Mike Starr today. Rest in peace man.” — Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum
“song of the day: ROOSTER – ALICE IN CHAINS (RIP MIKE STARR)” — Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas
“I love and will miss my brother mike starr and I’m doing what ever it takes to not hurt all my friends and family” — former Guns ‘N’ Roses drummer Steve Adler
It’s a shame Layne Staley wasn’t his wake up call.
In a world of hoped for miracles, maybe Mike will be Charlie Sheen’s wake up call. At least then his death will not be in vain.
…or maybe Max Green’s… heard that dude collapsed on stage a few nights ago
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Hey tinagren81…why not you do the same as Mike Starr and leave this world.
Terrible news and SeekingBillionaire was amazing
He always blamed himself for Layne’s death. He was the last person to see him alive…
@Ted Rock
I know a certain member of AIC and here’s why he blamed himself…he was the one that got Layne hooked on heroin back in the 90s and then, he was the one that got Layne sucked back into his last lapse that killed him (after Layne had been clean for while).
He was originally kicked out of AIC due to his substance issues and because of causing Layne to lapse (which killed him), he was not even allowed to attend Layne’s funeral. F*** Starr, here’s one person who won’t be missing him a bit.
@Tyler Durden
Did Mike Starr inject Layne with H in his sleep? Did he hold him at gun point and force him to do H with him?
If the answer to both of those questions is “no,” then he’s not the one who got Layne hooked on H. He may very well have been the first person to introduce Layne to those drugs (I have no idea), but that doesn’t mean he’s responsible.
@ Tyler Durden
Dude ! That is an absolutely atrocious and pernicious. How dare you? How dare you? Everyone makes their own choices. Mike Starr did not get Layne addicted nor is he or will ever be responsible for his death. They were best friends both suffering addiction. Of course there is residual guilt. However, pointing a finger is the last thing an outsider or even Mike Starr should have done. We make our own choices. Mike chose mixing methadone and Layne took enough Heroin to OD. Bottom Line. And it is tragic and sad for humanity. Life extinguished is never pretty. How dare you?
rip mike
That is a real tragedy. Mike Starr was an excellent bass player and I always hoped that things would turn around in a good way for him.
I am so so sad by this news. I love Alice in Chains. I was hoping Mike was starting to turn his life around. I feel so bad for his family…RIP
I thought maybe he had a chance at life after he popped up on last season of CR and said he was sober. Very sad.
He looked really good. I actually thought he was going to make it. So sad. Hopefully we won’t be hearing the same thing about Tom Sizemore. He was in as bad shape as Mie.
RIP you will be missed
No, not really.
Yes, really.
Okay, so you will not miss him. Then keep the negativity to yourself. It is not appropriate for such a sensitive and sad time for a great many people. You want to be obnoxious, then go to the website on rude sarcasm during mourning.
Love Alice and watched last season of Celebrity Rehab just to watch him in his recovery. The episode with the exchange between Mike and Layne’s mom was a heart tugger and I am truly sad to hear this news. RIP Mike
Sorry to hear about this, I just saw him on Celebrity Rehab reunion and he looked like he was doing well. Pray for his family and friends.
He was just on the last season of CR and announced a number of days sober. This is very sad and I’m genuinely upset about this.
So incredibly sad. I was hoping he would be able to turn things around. RIP
I love Alice in Chains and saw him on Celebrity Rehab and hoped that he was getting better and getting his addiction under control. So very sad to hear this news. My condolences to his family and friends.
Damn. Damn. RIP.
Wow. Too sad. I wish these guys could beat their demons and addictions. Feel sad for his family and friends. Alice in Chains is one of my favs from that era.
RIP my friend. Alice in Chains was one of the best bands from the last era of good music. You will be missed.
As a former addict i totally understood his pain. I am in deep mourning for him. I had hoped he would have shaken that terrible demon. It’s stories like his though, that make me feel thankful that i got out of that life. That could have easily been me. RIP Mikey…
Good for you, Ted. Best of luck to you.
Proud of you, Ted. RIP to another great musician gone too soon.
I feel so sad, he was such a sweet caring man and everyone loved him -he loved himself, sober but those demons are hard to break.
I am thinking tonight of friends he made in rehab, like Amber and Tom Sizemore….I hope this does not make anyone feel hopeless and that people will come together in grief and renew their committment to stay sober. Its what he certainly wanted for everyone including himself.
First it’s the lead singer, now him…what in the world is going on?
drugs : (. . . And Layne has been sadly gone for well over a decade now. Plenty of people have done the O.D. ride in the time between em. Mike rocked it pretty hard for how long he lasted. Now I will pop in some ol AIC for some commemoration.
Layne Passed away in 2002, so it has been 9 years – not sure where you got whatever numbers you were working with. On a different note, I was living near the UW and used to eat and shop and would occas see Layne walking alone. This would be 1999 and 2000. He seemed tall to me (I’m 5’9 and he had to be a bit over 6′) No one seemed to notice or bother him. If anyone reads this and remembers Wizards of the coast, that’s the area I was referring when seeing him.
Anyway, I still listen to their music and probably always will. Thanks Mike…
Good call. . . I got it mixed up with Cobain again. Freaky note that even though they didn’t find Layne for days, he still died approximately the same day that Kurt did like 7-8 years prior. Be the anniversary in a little under a month too. And yes, he was over 6 ft. A glorified detail because of how little he weighed in the end. Still been almost ten years now and it sux.