The family of Shifty Shellshock, real name Seth Binzer, has broken their silence following the Crazy Town frontman’s death at age 49.
“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,” Shellshock’s family said in a statement to The Sun on Saturday, June 29. “He loved his three boys more than anything, and his dedication to his music and fans never wavered.”
Shellshock was found dead in his Los Angeles home on Monday, June 24. Three days later, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner confirmed that the performer’s cause of death was an accidental drug overdose.
Shellshock is survived by three children — sons Halo, Gage and Phoenix — whom he shared with three different women, and who the statement referred to as his “proudest accomplishments.”
Shellshock’s history with substance abuse was no secret, as he had appeared on VH1 shows Celebrity Rehab and Sober House early in his career. He appeared on both reality shows for two seasons. (Shellshock founded the rap rock band Crazy Town in 1995 with Bret “Epic” Mazur.)
“Seth struggled with addiction throughout his life, he did so on a very public platform which was particularly challenging,” his family’s statement continued. “God knows he tried so hard to beat his demons but sadly he lost his battle.”
They concluded, “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.”
Crazy Town’s manager, Howie Hubberman, confirmed Shellshock’s overdose to Us Weekly on Thursday, June 27. “Seth Binzer, after struggling with addiction and Crazy Town’s rapid success with ‘Butterfly,’ never was able to reach out on a more successful level to deal with his addictions,” Hubberman said. “We all tried, but ultimately we all failed, or Shifty would still be here.”
The statement continued, “The cause of death was a combination of prescription drugs and street-purchased drugs. Shifty was a friend and really wanted to get himself fixed — unfortunately, no one had the exact tools to do this, myself included.”
A representative for Shellshock told Us on Tuesday, June 25, described the rapper as a “courageous fighter full of talent, light, compassion, love and grace.”
“He will be missed by so many. He was one of those souls that was magnetic,” the rep added. “We will miss you, Seth. Thank you for your talents and contributions to our music industry. We were all blessed to have had you.”
In a statement to Us on Sunday, June 30, Silverstone Entertainment president Mike Quinn described Shellshock as a “loving friend” whose “untimely passing leaves an irreplaceable void in my heart.”
“Beyond the stage, I can tell you Seth was a beacon of resilience, and he navigated many tumultuous waves of in life with his indomitable spirit,” Quinn told Us. “I really loved the guy, and I’m gonna miss him tremendously and the hug he gave me every time I saw him. I’m gonna miss sitting in front of him and having lunch on Sunset Boulevard talking about life, being a dad, the good times, and sobriety currency.”
Quinn added, “His legacy should solely be marked by his art, his music, and his love. Seth will continue to inspire [sic] forever. His voice lives on, and the memories of his very vibrant presence will be cherished always, reminding us of how fragile this gift of life is. We are all just guests on this planet, and I was glad to have shared it with my brother Seth.”
