Shifty Shellshock of Crazy Town Gone at 49

Cause of death appears to be a drug overdose

June 25, 2024June 25, 2024 Ron Hart 1 Comment Bret Hadley “Epic” Mazur, Butterfly, Crazy Town, DJ Adam 12, DJ AM, James Bradley Jr., Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones, Los Angeles, RIP, Seth Brooks Binzer, Shifty Shellshock

Seth Brooks Binzer, the co-founder and co-frontman for Los Angeles rap rockers Crazy Town famously known as Shifty Shellshock, has passed away at the age of 49.

Word of his death emerged last night via Variety, who confirmed the news on the website of the L.A. County medical examiner.

According to TMZ, Shellshock’s untimely demise is being investigated as a potential drug overdose, as drug paraphernalia was found near his body when it was found by police on Monday.

A lifelong California kid, Binzer was born on August 23, 1974, to former model Leslie Brooks and filmmaker and television producer Rollin Binzer, known primarily for his role as director of Ladies and Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones. He met his Crazy Town co-captain, Bret Hadley “Epic” Mazur, in 1995 and began working together as The Brimstone Sluggers alongside DJ Adam 12 of She Wants Revenge. Binzer and Mazur formed Crazy Town in the late 90s with a lineup that included former Mary’s Danish drummer James Bradley, Jr. and the late DJ AM behind the turntables.

Crazy Town’s debut album, The Gift of Game, was released in November 1999 on Columbia Records, yielding three singles, the most famous of which was “Butterfly,” whose Red Hot Chili Peppers-sampled groove helped propel the song to the top of the Billboard Hot 100.

Crazy Town released two more albums together in 2002’s Darkhorse and 2015’s The Brimstone Sluggers before Mazur left the band in 2017 and Shifty carried on under the banner Crazy Town X.

In July 2004, Shellshock released his only solo album, Happy Love Sick, which scored a minor hit in collaboration with British dance producer Paul Oakenfold on a song called “Starry Eyed Surprise.”

In 1994, Shifty made an appearance in the Martin Short/Charles Grodin comedy Clifford, and was one of the stars of the VH-1 reality shows Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew and Celebrity Rehab Presents Sober House in addition to other on-screen roles.

Unfortunately, his last appearance in the headlines stemmed from a violent fistfight Shifty engaged in with bandmate Bobby Reeves following a show in Myrtle Beach, SC. He would be arrested several days later for a DUI.

Whether you loved Crazy Town or hated them, we can all surely be in agreement in hoping that Seth Brooks Binzer finds peace in the afterlife.