Alice In Chains Bassist Mike Starr has Died (April 4, 1966 – March 8, 2011)

(HMG Celebrity News) – Mike Starr, the original bassist for Alice in Chains, has died at the age of 44.  Starr was found dead in a house in Salt Lake City, Utah yesterday afternoon (March 8).  Starr was found by police after someone had telephoned police to notify them of the death.

According to TMZ, Starr’s father has spoken of his son’s death, calling it “a terrible shock and tragedy”.

Starr’s near lifelong struggle with addiction to a range of drugs — heroin, methadone, crystal meth, and cocaine  — was chronicled on both “Celebrity Rehab” and “Sober House,” where he shared space with fellow in-recovery addicts Heidi Fleiss, Tom Sizemore and Dennis Rodman.  The official cause of his death is unconfirmed so far but there was no sign of foul play by another.

After contributing to their 1992 album ‘Dirt’, Starr left Alice In Chains in 1993, and took no part in their subsequent reunion.
In February, Starr was arrested on two felony counts of possession when he was busted with painkillers and an anti-anxiety drug, neither of which were prescribed to him.   He was believed to be putting together a new band in Utah just before he died.  Rest in peace, Mike.