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Crazy Town lead singer Shifty Shellshock dead at 49

The frontman of Crazy Town – the band responsible for one of the biggest hits of the early 2000s – has been found dead at his home.

Crazy Town's frontman's shock update (Rock Feed)

Shifty Shellshock – real name Seth Binzer – has died at the age of 49.

The frontman of Crazy Town, the band responsible for massive 2000 hit Butterfly – reportedly passed away on Monday.

No cause of death has been released yet.

The singer in the <i>Butterfly</i> music video. Picture: Vince Bucci/Getty Images
The singer in the Butterfly music video. Picture: Vince Bucci/Getty Images
Binzer battled substance abuse over the years. Picture: Vince Bucci/Getty Images
Binzer battled substance abuse over the years. Picture: Vince Bucci/Getty Images

The musician battled with substance abuse over the years, and had opened up on social media about his struggles just eight weeks before his death.

“I’m a lover than a fighter … but the one I need to love more Instead of fight with is myself . mr shifty true Love # Sober alive and grateful [sic],” Binzer wrote on Instagram.

Crazy Town found global success with the release of Butterfly, which propelled them to stardom - especially Binzer, who was known for his iconic peroxide blonde hair and labrette piercing.

The hit song was based on a sample of Pretty Little Ditty from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and was released in October 2000. However, it only gained mainstream popularity after being released physically in February 2001.

Crazy Town’s Shifty Shellshock in 2006. Picture: Vince Bucci/Getty Images
Crazy Town’s Shifty Shellshock in 2006. Picture: Vince Bucci/Getty Images

The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US the very next month, while also topping charts in many countries around the world, including at number 4 in Australia.

Crazy Town took their first hiatus from 2003 until 2007, when the frontman began pursuing a solo career with moderate success.

It was a rocky road at times from there, with Binzer openly discussing his issuess with drug addiction

The singer soon talked openly about his struggles with drug addiction and even later appeared on substance abuse reality television series Celebrity Rehab and Sober House.

A police mugshot of Binzer went viral last June showing him looking completely unrecognisable from his days at the peak of fame.

He was also for driving under the influence of alcohol back in April 2023, with police being alerted after he was spotted driving erratically and swerving between lanes in his black SUV, as reported by TMZ.

He was then pulled from the vehicle, failed a sobriety test, and was arrested by police.

Originally published as Crazy Town lead singer Shifty Shellshock dead at 49

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/crazy-town-lead-singer-shifty-shellshock-dead-at-49/news-story/2a3d1690712657e66c69a7607ccf839a