Shifty Shellshock Has Died Aged 49
ArchiveFirst published June 27, 2024. It may not reflect later developments.
Shifty Shellshock, the American rapper and singer-songwriter, has died at 49. He was best known for co-founding and fronting the rap rock band Crazy Town, famous for their hit song “Butterfly.” Fans have been devastated by the news, with tributes pouring in on social media. One fan wrote, “Had the pleasure of seeing Shifty at an intimate gig, he had so much time for everyone there, a great frontman.” Another added, “Sad to see you go. Fly high, my friend.”
Binzer, inspired by the Beastie Boys’ album ‘Licensed to Ill,’ formed Crazy Town with Bret ‘Epic’ Mazur in the early 1990s. Their debut album, ‘The Gift Of The Game,’ included “Butterfly,” which gained mainstream popularity in 2001. Despite their initial success, the band struggled to match it and eventually split in 2002 after lackluster sales of their second album, ‘Darkhorse.’ Binzer later found moderate success as a solo artist with ‘Happy Love Sick.’
Throughout his life, Binzer was candid about his struggles with drug and alcohol problems, appearing on reality TV shows like Celebrity Rehab and Sober House. He was hospitalized in 2012 after falling into a coma and had several run-ins with the law.
Binzer died at his Los Angeles home on June 24. The cause of death is under investigation, with a possibility of a fatal overdose. An autopsy has been completed, but the results are pending a toxicology report. Mazur mentioned that Binzer appeared in good spirits before his passing.
