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Alice in Chains' Founding Bassist, Mike Starr, Found Dead in Salt Lake City

Marty Temme, WireImage

Mike Starr, the founding bassist of Alice in Chains has been found dead in a home in Salt Lake City, according to a report by TMZ.com. Police were called to the house at 1:42PM on Tuesday and found controlled substances including Xanax and the painkiller Opana, along with the dead body. Starr was 44.

In 1987, Starr was friends with guitarist Jerry Cantrell and agreed to join his new project with vocalist Layne Staley and drummer Sean Kinney, under the name Alice in Chains. The Seattle-based band was signed to Columbia Records two years later, in 1989, and cashed in on the grunge movement when it broke in the early '90s, following Nirvana's unexpected, massive success. Suddenly, Alice in Chains was branded as an alternative rock band, instead of the heavy metal machine they first imagined themselves as, and the group scored a hit with the song, 'Would?,' which was featured on the soundtrack to the generation-defining film, 'Singles.'

Starr's tenure with the band ended in 1993, with the official reason for his departure being a lifestyle change. On the record, Starr wanted to spend more time with his family, less on the road and the split was amicable. Years later, Starr publicly said that, in actuality, he was kicked out due to his drug use, which was spiraling out of control.

In 2010, Starr joined the cast of VH1's 'Celebrity Rehab' for its third season. The show documented his recovery from heroin addiction and Starr returned to the series the following season as a special guest, appearing as something of a mentor for that season's recovering addicts. Last month, on Feb. 18, Starr was arrested in Utah on suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance.

Watch Alice in Chains' Video for 'Would?'


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eganswest

I've never wrote any comment for anyone before.... I love Alice in Chains ... My favorite band of alll time.. I hope we all can come together and stop fighting on these blogs and appreciate each other and our musical preferences... Everyone likes certain music diffferently, and what hits " home" , hits HOME, right... MIKES
Basslines hit major home for me.. so sad, but --- he is probably HAPPY.

September 02 2011 at 9:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
stopit

Bad treatment for anyone is when the world turns its back on you when you are trying to reconnect with it. Every single one of us has been "weak minded" at one point or another, and have failed miserably at certain points in our lives. We've all hurt others, and have done things we are not proud of. This makes us human, not some monster or someone who doesn't have strength to overcome our demons. His drug use was a symptom of a bigger problem that we may never know about. I just hope that he is finally at peace. Just an FYI, the real tragedy in all of this, as someone who has been clean and sober for 6 years, is that he never got to experience what clean feels like. The only way I got there was by support of people who really saw I had a chance and a purpose. Stop with this bashing, and think about moments when you needed someone the most, and they told you you didn't warrant their time. RIP Mike. I'm sorry to see you go this way.

March 23 2011 at 7:35 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sara Haugen

Thoughts and prayers with the band and to Starr's family.

March 22 2011 at 5:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sober in Seattle

Saw the notice in the Seattle Times about Mike and it makes me sad and angry at the same time. Being in recovery for heroin addiction for 24 years, I know Mike's struggle. We are NOT weak minded and it is a disease.

Rest in peace my beautiful friend. You no longer have to suffer the daily, unbearable torment.

March 20 2011 at 11:23 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
EZ Money

This is CRAZY! I was locked up with him in Yakima, WA. R.I.P. brother. See u soon

March 18 2011 at 10:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Linda C.

Boy, was I bummed when I heard this today. So very sorry that he didn't make it through. But at least he's with his friend, Layne, now. Maybe he'll have the peace he deserves. Hope so. Anyway, codolences to his family and peace to you Mike. You'll be in my prayers.

March 18 2011 at 2:54 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cheshirekat

rip mike. please stop with all the bible thumping and damnation talk people!!!! its NOT very christian of you. i am agnostic and also believe its everyones right to choose their own beliefs.... this has nothing to do with god.... mike had a DISEASE which unfortunately took his life. see you on the other side mike.

March 10 2011 at 12:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
HN

Whether Dr.Drew or Mike himself decided to be at "sober house" my comment remains true: it was an inappropriate treatment modality for an individual with such severe withdrawl, addiction and possible psychological problems.

March 09 2011 at 9:27 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Tracey Ennis

Wow, so very very sad to hear of Mike's death. I was rooting for him, he was truly a tortured soul. Finally I hope he has found peace. My greatest sympathy to his friends and family.

As a recovering addict I know what he went through and to all here who are casting stones....look in the mirror and try and find compassion in your heart for someone.... anyone....there really is no need for the kind of posts who degrade another human being no matter what his frailties or problems might have been. He was someones child...imagine the pain some of your posts would cause them and think how you would feel if someone hurt your family like that.

March 09 2011 at 8:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Laurie

I am incredibly sad to hear this news. As a mental health professional it breaks my heart when I meet people like Mike that cannot get past their inner demons. Often it is due to the fact that the mental health community have not provided adequate (consistent) resources. I pray for his family and hope he has found peace on the other side.

March 09 2011 at 6:10 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply