Crazy Town frontman Seth 'Shifty Shellshock' Binzer's cause of death has reportedly been revealed by his personal representative, Howard Hubberman. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Hubberman revealed that it is believed Binzer, who passed away on Monday died of an 'accidental overdose'.
"Seth has been struggling with substance abuse problems for quite some time. Seth was not happy with the daily struggle that’s called life. Some people cope in many different ways." “It’s unfortunate we lose so many people to addiction and accessibility to harmful drugs. Shifty was a real-life tragedy. Too fast, too hard, too soon.”
A report from the County Of Los Angeles, Medical Examiner reveals that Binzer who was born August 23rd, 1974, was declared dead at his place of residence on June 24th, 2024. The case is listed as 'open' and no official cause of death had been listed on the publicly accessible document at the time of the report's surfacing.
Binzer's former bandmate and Crazy Town co-founder Bret 'Epic' Mazur took to social media overnight to post his thoughts on the passing of the man alongside whom he rose to stardom in the late '90s. The statement reads.
It is with profound sadness and heavy hearts that we have learned the passing of our dear friend and brother, Seth Binzer. As the other half of Crazy Town, Seth's incredible talent and larger-than-life personality left an indelible mark on all who knew him and on the music we created together.
Seth struggled with the challenges of maintaining sobriety throughout his life, a battle that he continuously fought privately and publicly. Despite the hardships, he brought immense joy and energy into the lives of those around him. I wish with all my heart that his story could have ended differently, but we find solace in the hope that Seth has finally found the peace he was searching for so desperately all these years.
Our Crazy Town family and I treasure the core memories from our younger years, the highs and lows, the laughter and the lessons and each moment contributed to who we are today. Seth's journey, marked by struggle, was also filled with moments of incredible creativity and love.
I want to take a quick moment to stress the importance of sobriety. For nearly 18 years, I have walked a sober path, and I urge anyone struggling to seek help and support, from myself or someone you trust. There is always hope, and a chance for a better tomorrow.
We will miss Seth more than words can express. His spirit will live on in the music we made and in the hearts of those who loved him. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family during this incredibly difficult time.
Rest in peace, Seth. You will always be remembered and cherished.
With love and sorrow….God speed…ya’ boy
Bret "Epic" Mazur
Binzer was best known for his work with Crazy Town for whom he performed under the stage name Shifty Shellshock. Crazy Town rose to prominence in 1999 thanks to the success of US number one hit Butterfly which powered the album it was lifted off The Gift Of Game into the charts. Binzer would continue on with Crazy Town after their initial boom, with the group releasing the full-length Darkhorse (2002) before splitting up in 2003. They returned to active status in 2007 and released The Brimstone Sluggers (2015) record.
They officially changed their name to Crazy Town X in 2017 following the exit of Shifty's co-frontman Mazur.
Crazy Town's last official releases were a run of non-album singles including The Life I Chose feat. Hyro The Hero and most recently Faded feat. We Are Pigs (2023). Binzer also released solo music under the Shifty Shellshock pseudonym including the album Happy Love Sick (2004).
Binzer, who battled issues with substance abuse throughout his life, was a cast member on the rehab clinic-based reality television shows Celebrity Rehab, Sober House 1 and Sober House 2. In 2012, he was admitted to hospital in a Coma, but recovered sufficiently to return to live performances and writing/recording with Crazy Town/Crazy Town X. The band's last full tour run of shows took place in late 2023. The band last toured Australia in 2019, for the 20th anniversary celebration of The Gift of Game.
