Celebrity Rehab rocker found dead
By Alexandra Heilbron on March 10, 2011 | 24 Comments
Former “Alice in Chains” bassist Mike Starr, who appeared on the third season of the reality TV series Celebrity Rehab in 2010, was found dead Tuesday after police were called to a home in Salt Lake City. He was 44 years old. The cause of death has not yet been released, but police say they do not suspect foul play. Starr was the original bassist for the band when they formed in 1987, but left in 2003 because of his addiction to heroin. Starr was arrested last month in Salt Lake City on suspicion of possession of medications without a required prescription. According to his Celebrity Rehab biography, Mike’s problems included drug possession, DUI and property destruction charges, and as someone who had abused heroin, methadone, crystal meth, cocaine and pot, he was a veteran of 30 stints in drug rehabilitation facilities. Starr’s Salt Lake City roommate told TMZ that the rocker was “mixing” methadone and anxiety medication hours before he died, adding, “Mike was a beautiful person who was fighting to stay sober … I am going to miss him greatly.”
This is really sad. Why are so many people killing themselves with drugs, whether prescription or illegal substances?
Sheesh Andrea, naive much?
I can assure you that the drug lords in mexico aren’t called drug lords because they only sell to one or two people in the USA LOL
This guy isn’t/wasn’t the only one doing this. What I am surprised with is that his friend clearly knew he relapsed. What kind of friend allows someone to do that?
Sad to hear it. I thouroughly enjoyed their videos. They shot a good one. Hope they admit poor Mike to heaven for them good videos.
Another tragic waste of talent.
If only people would learn to just say NO the first time so there would never be a second time! Too many lives have been lost to addictions and who is too blame here the seller or the buyer? I blame it on the hippie revolution of the 60’s it started with marijuanna and over the years has progressed to where we are now.Not saying there weren’t drugs before then but it seems like it exploded after this era.
For heaven sakes Mary get a life. It has nothing to do with the Hippies, it’s all about greed.
OK how about we get off the drug lords and focus on the life of an amazing bass player. Mike Starr helped to create Alice in Chains and his drug use got worse with the loss of your best friend Layne Staley. Mike, your fans will miss you. Thanks you for the amazing music. R.I.P
Are we as a society becoming immune to feelings! Drugs are so prevalent and easy to obtain. Can we not feel compassion for it’s victims?
He liked drugs, he took too much and died. It was his choice, stop trying to find an excuse. He wanted to have fun.
People die from eating too much salt. More often than drugs, people like salt. They also like fatty foods and that kills them too.
There are lots of addicts, some can kill fast, some can kill slow. I see people line up for almost an hour to get a coffee in the morning. True drug addicts.
Don’t get mad at addicts, they choose what they want. Just enjoying life and having fun. Don’t get mad at someone unless they hurt others please.
That’s really sad. Another legend dies. R.I.P. Mike Starr
Totally agree with J2. We make our own choices in life and presumably we’re responsible for our own lives. Why is it always someone else’s fault when someone dies?
Sorry, but in my honest opinion, addiction is a choice. You choose whether or not to start and you should know enough to either not start or when to quit. Choosing not to start is always the smartest choice but those with fame and/or money obviously have no willpower or proper brain functioning to begin with. Common sense people, use it!!!
one less drug addict loser.
Yeh, I agree with the two former comments. He could have reached out for help, when he knew he needed it, and the fact that a freind new he had relapsed, just goes to show that he didn’t have a very good “Support” group around him; could have prevented his overdose, or whatever! Yes, it was probably a good talent wasted, but it sounds like he hadn’t “had it together” for some time–or he would have been working,and possibly not just working on “killing himself”. It’s a shame.
For the person who said that the roommate clearly knew that he had relapsed, your information is wrong.Methadone is a prescribed substitute that is administered to the patient in a medical setting to slowly wean the addict off heroin.There should have a knowledge that mixing methadone and a anxiety medication could result in a bad reaction or even worse death! May he rest in peace now that he no longer has to suffer from the horrible fate that addiction has….
i stopped reading the comments because i am disgusted with the way some of you people treat other people on here based solely on their opinion on the article. the world is a sad place when people cant speak their mind or what they feel about what they read on a gossip article without being ridiculed and mistreated. shame on you all.
rest in peace, i feel for your friends and family, no matter how you passed away it doesnt change the way they hurt.
Too bad it happened – BUT – this was his lifestyle choice, it wasn’t like there wasn’t anyone out there to help him. He went to rehab enough times – so – in the end, it’s his own fault.
addiction sometimes overwhelms you and you no matter how much help you have or how much support you cant seem to break free. something in your brain requires you to have what youre addicted to and therefore is an illness/disease not a simple life choice. dying is generally NO ONES choice unless they decide to commit suicide, i really doubt this was the case here, so no it WASNT “his own fault” that his life ended.
I agree mandee. This was a tragic, unnecessary death. What a shame.
First let me say RIP Mike Starr.
I watched him on celebrity rehab and he struggled so hard through the whole 10 weeks and into the sober house experience. He was so full of anxiety and anger and at times some depression,he really wanted to get clean and stay sober. I was so hoping he would be a success story and make it, but deep down I was afraid he wouldn’t be able to get it done. I’ve never had an addiction of that magnitude so I can’t speak to how hard it is and I won’t pass judgement on his not being able to stay clean. It is very sad for his mom and friends and band members who so wanted him back clean and sober and who will miss him horrifically.I also feel sad for Dr. Drew and the people who worked with him at the center and for all the friends he made during his stay, they were his biggest fans, cheering him on to get and stay clean. Sadly he didn’t make it.
Thanks for music Mike RIP.
was just watching the new season of celebrity rehab and was sad to hear mike starr died at least at peace and joined the great rock gods in the sky mike i’ll miss your music man r.i.p
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