Crazy Town Frontman Shifty Shellshock Dies at 49
Shifty Shellshock, the frontman of the rap-rock band Crazy Town, has died at the age of 49. The musician, born Seth Binzer, was found dead at his home in Los Angeles on Monday, June 24. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
Binzer gained fame with Crazy Town’s 2001 hit single “Butterfly,” which topped the US charts and reached number three in the UK. Despite the band’s initial success, Binzer struggled with addiction throughout his life, a battle he openly discussed on reality shows like “Celebrity Rehab” and “Sober House.”
Binzer was born in 1974 into a family immersed in the music industry. His father, Rollin Binzer, directed the 1973 concert film “Ladies And Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones,” while his mother, Leslie Brooks, was a model. Inspired by the Beastie Boys, Binzer formed Crazy Town in 1995 after meeting Bret “Epic” Mazur.
Crazy Town’s debut album, The Gift Of The Game, initially struggled, but the success of “Butterfly” catapulted them to fame. The song, known for its catchy chorus, was a softer counterpoint to the more chauvinistic lyrics Binzer had previously written. Despite concerns that it might define their sound, the track became a major hit.
Following the success of “Butterfly,” Crazy Town’s subsequent releases failed to make a significant impact. The band split in 2002 after their second album, Darkhorse, underperformed. Binzer pursued a solo career, releasing the moderately successful album Happy Love Sick and collaborating with DJ Paul Oakenfold on the track “Starry Eyed Surprise.”
Rest in peace Seth Binzer (aka Shifty Shellshock) of Crazy Town. pic.twitter.com/OnrbEnUtx3
— Linkin Park Live (@LPLive) June 25, 2024
Binzer reunited with Mazur for a final Crazy Town album, The Brimstone Sluggers, in 2015, before rebranding the band as Crazy Town X. Throughout his career, Binzer was candid about his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as his legal troubles, which included arrests for domestic abuse and drug possession.
Despite these challenges, Crazy Town continued to perform, with their most recent shows taking place in May 2024. Shifty Shellshock is survived by his three children, Halo, Gage, and Phoenix.