Crazy Town singer Shifty Shellshock’s heartbroken family break silence after tragic star found dead at home aged 49
THE family of Crazy Town singer Shifty Shellshock today poignantly gave thanks for his “heart of gold”.
In a heartbreaking statement released to The Sun, the rapper’s loved ones remembered his “beautiful soul”.
They broke their silence after the band frontman, whose real name was Seth Binzer, passed away at his home at the age of 49 after a lengthy battle with drug and alcohol addiction that spanned four decades.
The family told The Sun that for all his rock stardom Seth’s biggest “accomplishment” was his three children.
They said: “To Seth, the world was art—he loved every part of it, from music and fashion to graffiti, skateboarding and his hometown of Los Angeles.
“He loved his three boys more than anything, and his dedication to his music and fans never wavered.
“Seth struggled with addiction throughout his life, he did so on a very public platform which was particularly challenging.
“God knows he tried so hard to beat his demons but sadly he lost his battle.
“Our hearts are shattered by his loss. Seth’s larger-than-life presence touched so many.
“Seth was a troubled soul but he was a beautiful one and he had a heart of gold.
“He will live on through his 3 sons who were his proudest accomplishments. Halo Gage and Phoenix.”
Crazy Town once said that having “been to hell and back” shaped them – and they faced more than their fair share of struggles.
The star’s cause of death has been “deferred” pending toxicology test results after his body was found beside drug paraphernalia and a lighter.
Seth’s death is one of many tragedies to strike the band, who rose to fame in 2000 with their single Butterfly and sold 1.5million of their debut album The Gift Of Game.
Crazy Town initially split in 2003 after eight years together amid claims of wild drug-taking and alcohol abuse that led Seth to enter rehab on multiple occasions.
He loved his three boys more than anything, and his dedication to his music and fans never wavered
Seth's family
The singer had a difficult upbringing. He regularly raided his graphic artist dad’s drug stash during his childhood and learned to roll a joint at the age of five.
He previously told Rolling Stone: “My dad was the artsy-fartsy guy who did lots of cocaine and had weed all over the house.”
In Seth’s teens he sold weed and harder substances and by 18 was jailed for 90 days after robbing another drug dealer at gunpoint.
He recalled the band going on coke and speed-fuelled marathons while writing songs before being ordered into rehab in 1997.
A year later, Seth was in Alcoholics Anonymous and ahead of gigs, the band would regularly recite the AA prayer “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change. The courage to change the things I can.”
By 2000, he fell off the wagon and was arrested for throwing a chair out of a window while he was drunk.
God knows he tried so hard to beat his demons but sadly he lost his battle
Seth's family
In a 2001 interview, Seth admitted he had spent three months in prison for attempted burglary and that he was regularly selling and using recreational drugs.
Throughout the 2000s, Seth battled addiction and sought help on the reality TV shows Celebrity Rehab 1 and 2 and Sober House 1 and 2.
His battle with drugs contributed to his split from his first wife Melissa Clark, who he tied the knot with in 2002 and divorced nine years later, citing irreconcilable differences.
It’s unclear when Seth and Melissa, who shared son Halo, parted ways but in 2008, he dated Tracy Selor, who he had another boy with, named Gage.
In 2010, he started dating British model Jasmine Lennard – who previously had a fling with Simon Cowell – and had a son Phoenix. Within two years they split up.
The family are now trying to raise money for support to Seth’s three kids via a fundraiser.