Mike Starr Dead: 5 Facts on the Late Alice in Chains Bassist

Mar 16, 2011 by admin

Previous Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr was identified dead Tuesday afternoon (March eight).

TMZ reviews that police observed Starr’s human body in a Salt Lake Town, Utah, house at one:42 p.m. He was 44 decades outdated.

 

A co-founding member of the pioneering Seattle grunge band, Starr appeared on VH1′s “Celebrity Rehab” in 2009. He was arrested final month for felony possession of a controlled substance. Salt Lake Town police said he had many painkillers on him when he was arrested. Alice in Chains have published heart-wrenching and evocative songs about drug addiction.

Previous singer Layne Staley died in spring 2002 right after overdosing on a combination of heroin and cocaine, frequently recognized as a “speedball.” The group mounted a profitable comeback with 2009′s Black Provides Way to Blue, which featured new vocalist William DuVall alongside guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Inez.

Mike Starr was born April four, 1966, in Honolulu. He rose to prominence in the Seattle scene as bassist for Diamond Lie, which featured Cantrell and Kinney. When Staley entered the fold, they altered their identify to Alice in Chains and signed a major-label deal. Starr seems on the group’s debut album, Facelift, which created the monster hit “Man in the Box.” He’s also on the band’s adhere to-up EP release, Sap, and their 2nd album, Dirt, which was launched in September 1992.

Dirt is a hard rock classic, with “Rooster” remaining a radio staple. “Would?” was featured in the motion picture “Singles,” which was set in the Seattle scene. “Down in a Hole” has been covered by Ryan Adams, Fuel and Demon Hunter. Songs like “Junkhead” dealt with heroin use head-on. The band Godsmack, whose sound owes a lot to Alice in Chains, took their name from track 9. Cantrell wrote the vast majority of the songs with some hefty contributions from Staley. Starr is credited as a co-author on one particular track, “Rain When I Die.”

Starr left Alice in Chains whilst touring behind Dirt in 1993. Many years later on, he would reveal on “Celebrity Rehab” that his purpose for leaving was his growing addiction to medicines. He briefly joined former Black Sabbath singer Ray Gillen in Sun Red Sun. Their self-titled debut was released in 1995, two many years right after Gillen died from AIDS-associated problems.

Heroin addiction sent Starr to “Celebrity Rehab,” which was followed by a stint in the spin-off show “Sober House.” He showed up on one particular episode of the following period of “Celebrity Rehab,” celebrating more than 6 months of sobriety. He was arrested for possession by Salt Lake Town police on February eighteen, 2011.

Travis Meeks of the band Days of the New was reportedly driving the van Starr was riding in when he was arrested very last month. The singer/guitarist discovered platinum good results with his band’s 1st album in 1997 and a sound that drew comparisons to Alice in Chains. Meeks set together numerous different variations of the band in subsequent years, and his own drug difficulties landed him on the A&ampE show “Intervention” in 2005.

“Hey, officer, have you ever before heard of Alice in Chains? I utilized to be the bass guitarist for them,” Starr stated to police, according to a local news report. “We are down right here in Utah, me and Travis, placing together a new band.”

In accordance to a Ticketmaster listing, “Days of the New featuring Travis Meeks and Mike Starr” was scheduled to appear March 19 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Mike’s dad told TMZ his son’s death is “a terrible shock and tragedy.”

Starr appeared on the 3rd time of “Celebrity Rehab” back again in 2009 — and was arrested final month for felony possession of a controlled substance. Salt Lake Metropolis cops say he had six Xanax tablets and six Opana (painkiller) capsules when he was busted.

Starr was 44 years previous.

Mike’s dad tells TMZ, “It is a horrible shock and tragedy.”

Mike Starr, the original Alice in Chains bassist who endured a extended battle with heroin addiction, was observed dead on Tuesday. He was 44.

Starr’s human body was found at a private residence in Salt Lake City, but the lead to of death stays unfamiliar. “There is nothing at all to indicate that this was foul play by yet another individual,” mentioned authorities, according to The Guardian.

Shortly right after the band’s 1992 breakthrough album, “Dirt,” Starr broke off from Alice in Chains midtour and was replaced by Black Sabbath bassist Mike Inez. Decades later on Starr admitted that his explanation for departing was a increasing drug addiction.
Right here are five details on the late grunge bassist.

1. His death marks a second tragedy for Alice in Chains
In April 2002, Alice in Chains founding vocalist Layne Staley, who also suffered from a significant heroin addiction, died of an overdose at his residence in Seattle.

2. He was “Celebrity Rehab” affected person
In 2009, Starr appeared on the 3rd period of VH1′s “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew” along with actor Tim Sizemore and Dennis Rodman. Despite the medical consideration he received, Starr appeared to nonetheless be struggling with addiction.
3. He was arrested 3 weeks back
Starr was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of a managed substance on Feb. 17 in Salt Lake City. He was held on ,000 bail.

four. He also played in Sun Red Sun
Sun Red Sun was a heavy metal supergroup in between 1992 and 1993 and featured Starr along with drummer Bobby Rondinelli (Black Sabbath, Blue Oyster Cult), vocalist Ray Gillen (Badlands, Black Sabbath) and guitarist Al Romano (Joey Belladonna).

five. He will be missed by his fans and the rock neighborhood
Right here are just a couple of of the comments from fellow musicians heartbroken by the reduction

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