Seth Binzer, better known by his stage name Shifty Shellshock and the lead vocalist of the rap rock band Crazy Town, has passed away at the age of 49. According to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s website, Binzer died at his home in Los Angeles on Monday. The cause of death has not yet been confirmed.
Binzer, who had been open about his struggles with addiction, was a prominent figure in the music industry. He formed Crazy Town in 1995 with fellow rapper Bret “Epic” Mazur. The band also included DJ Rick One, Mark White, Adam Bravin, Charles Lopez, among others. Their breakthrough came in 2000 with the release of the single “Butterfly,” which topped the US Billboard Hot 100 for two nonconsecutive weeks.
However, the band’s success was short-lived. After their second album failed to make a significant impact, Crazy Town disbanded in 2003. They reunited four years later and released their third album, “The Brimstone Sluggers,” in 2015. In 2017, Binzer renamed the band Crazy Town X.
Binzer’s personal life was marked by his battle with addiction. He appeared on the reality TV show “Celebrity Rehab” twice and its spin-off, “Sober House,” on two occasions. In 2012, he was reportedly arrested for battery and cocaine possession and was hospitalized after falling into a coma. He was also arrested for DUI in Los Angeles in 2022 and again in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in April 2023.
Despite his struggles, Binzer remained hopeful about his recovery. In a March 2023 interview on “The Punk Rock MBA” podcast, he spoke candidly about his addiction and its impact on his career. He expressed his desire to live and emphasized the importance of finding inner peace and self-care in his journey towards sobriety.
Binzer’s death has sparked an outpouring of grief from fans, who have taken to social media to express their condolences. He is survived by his three children, Halo, Gage, and Phoenix.