Shifty Shellshock, the frontman of Crazy Town, has died at 49. Best known for the 2001 hit single “Butterfly,” he also collaborated with DJ Paul Oakenfold on “Starry Eyed Surprise.”
Born Seth Binzer, he founded Crazy Town in 1995. Throughout his life, he struggled with addiction, addressing his condition on reality shows like Celebrity Rehab and Sober House.
He was found dead at his home in Los Angeles on Monday, June 24, at the age of 49 years. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.
More About Shifty Shellshock
Shifty Shellshock, born Seth Binzer in 1974, grew up immersed in the music industry. His father, Rollin Binzer, directed the concert film “Ladies And Gentlemen: The Rolling Stones” and designed album covers for Chess Records, while his mother, Leslie Brooks, was a model.
Inspired by the Beastie Boys’ album “Licensed to Ill,” Binzer pursued rap music and formed Crazy Town after meeting Bret “Epic” Mazur in the early 1990s.
Initially envisioned as a hip-hop group with a full instrumental backing band, Crazy Town faced early setbacks.
Their first two singles from the debut album “The Gift Of The Game” failed to chart, and they withdrew from the Ozzfest festival in 2000 after Binzer was arrested for drunkenly throwing a chair out of a window.
Despite these challenges, their album included the song “Butterfly,” which became an instant hit upon its release in 2001.
The laid-back love song featured a catchy chorus and sampled a riff from the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Pretty Little Ditty.”
