Crazy Town singer Shifty Shellshock’s cause of death revealed 3 months after passing aged 49
The cause of death of Crazy Town singer Shifty Shellshock has been revealed, three months after his tragic death at the age of 49.
The Butterfly Killer – real name Seth Brooks Binzer – was found unconscious in a Koreatown, Los Angeles home on June 24, 2023 – and was later pronounced dead.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner determined the star’s cause of death to be the effects of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. The cause of death was ruled accidental.
Binzer has always been outspoken about his struggles with sobriety, even appearing on the reality TV show Celebrity rehabilitation for the first two seasons of the series in 2008.
He is survived by three sons from three relationships.
The cause of death of Crazy Town singer Shifty Shellshock has been revealed – three months after his tragic death at the age of 49 – photo 2004
Binzer (center) with Crazy Town band members. Their debut album, The Gift of Game, was released in November 1999 and became a hit after they released “Butterfly” as their third single, which spent two consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became the band’s biggest hit.
He shared his eldest son, Halo, with ex-wife Melissa Binzer. The couple married in 2002, but Melissa filed for divorce in 2011 after six years apart.
He later entered into a relationship with Tracy Shelor, with whom he had a son, Gage, who is now 15.
Binzer began a relationship with model Jasmine Lennard in 2010 and the couple have a son, Phoenix, 14. Their relationship ended after his arrest in 2012.
In June 2023, a mugshot of Seth went viral after the star looked completely unrecognizable from his time with the band.
He was arrested in Myrle Beach, South Carolina, for driving under the influence of alcohol from April 2023.
He seemed a world away from his days as a fresh-faced punk rocker when he had his picture taken after passing a breathalyzer test.
Seth was once known for his youthful good looks and quirky aesthetic, but in the photo he looked haggard and unkempt.
A police report obtained by TMZ stated that local police pulled Seth over after he was seen weaving between lanes in a black SUV.
Seth appeared listless and slurred his speech before passing a breathalyzer test.
The County of Los Angeles Department of Medical Examiner determined the star’s cause of death as the effects of fentanyl, cocaine and methamphetamine. The manner of death is accidental – Seth seen in a January Instagram post
In June 2023, a mugshot of Seth went viral after the star looked completely unrecognizable from his time in the band
Seth and Epic Mazur (R) perform at the Nova Rock 2014 Festival in Nickelsdorf, Austria
The incident came just a week after Seth and his Crazy Town bandmate Bobby Reeves came to blows after a concert in Myrtle Beach.
The feud between the musicians arose out of anger over the group’s lead singer, Shellshock, not arriving until the end of the show, TMZ reported at the time.
Co-singer Bobby sang in his place and gave a performance full of gaffes and angry words to Seth, as seen in a clip posted by a TikTok user.
Ultimately, Seth went to the concert and the clip on social media showed him getting into a heated argument with Bobby, who was later spotted with a black eye.
In a clip published by TMZ, the band members were seen arguing backstage over money and repeatedly making physical contact with each other, with Bobby even making threats towards Seth’s family members.
“I think you’re an asshole, buddy,” Bobby told Seth in the clip.
The altercation eventually ended after Bobby punched Seth and the two were left fighting on the floor.
Insiders to the band told media that the exchange was a “feud between brothers” and that the two have since reconciled.
In 2012, Seth apologized to his friends and family for the embarrassment he caused them after being convicted of drug possession and assaulting his girlfriend.
He was sentenced to three years probation after entering an appeal to no contradiction on both charges in court.
Seth first met co-frontman Bret Mazur in 1992, after which they initially formed under the name Brimstone Sluggers.
Seth pictured with his wife Melissa Clark at Avalon in Hollywood in 2003. The couple married in 2002 and have one son together. She filed for divorce in 2011, but the couple had been separated for six years at the time
In 1999 they formed Crazy Town and a year later they were set to tour as part of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne’s Ozzfest, but Binzer was arrested after throwing a chair out of a window while intoxicated.
The 2000s classic Butterfly was released in 2000 and topped the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks. In several other countries, including Austria, Denmark and Norway, the song reached number one.
It samples Pretty Little Ditty from the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ 1989 album Mother’s Milk, crediting the group as the songwriter.
Their debut album, The Gift of Game, sold over 1.5 million copies.
However, after their 2002 follow-up Darkhorse proved to be a flop, they split up.
They reunited in 2007 and returned to the stage in 2009. Their third album, The Brimstone Sluggers, followed in 2015.
In January 2017, Mazur – who went by the nickname Epic – announced his departure from the band, and in April of that year, Rick Dixon, Nick Diiorio and Kevin Kapler also left.
In 2012, Seth was hospitalized after losing consciousness and falling into a coma before being released (2003 photo)
Binzer also had a solo career, teaming up with British producer and musician Paul Oakenfold to provide vocals on his 2002 hit Starry Eyed Surprise.
His debut solo album, Happy Love Sick, was released in 2004.
In 2010 he also founded Shifty and The Big Shots.
Binzer often came into contact with the law, for crimes such as attempted burglary and the sale and use of recreational drugs.
In 2022, he began an affair with his childhood friend, Punky Brewster actress Soleil Moon Frye, 47, when he was arrested for driving under the influence in Los Angeles.