Crazy Town Frontman Shifty Shellshock Dies
Crazy Town frontman Shifty Shellshock has died. He was 49.
Per the Los Angeles Medical Examiner, Shellshock, whose legal name is Seth Binzer, died in his home in Los Angeles. A cause of death is currently unknown.
Crazy Town is best known for their hit song “Butterfly.” The track was released in October 2000 and was the third single from the band’s 1999 debut album, The Gift of Game. It features a sample from the Red Hot Chili Peppers song “Pretty Little Ditty” off of their 1989 album Mother’s Milk. As a result, Anthony Kiedis, Flea, John Frusciante and Chad Smith have songwriting credits on the track.
“Butterfly” was a No. 1 hit in eight countries, including Austria, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Poland, Romania and Switzerland. The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two consecutive weeks in 2001. Meanwhile, The Gift of Game was certified platinum by the RIAA in February 2001.
Crazy Town broke up in 2003, reunited in 2007 and was active up until Shellshock’s death.
Sadly, Shellshock publicly struggled with substance abuse for many years. Notably, he appeared on a number of VH1 reality shows in the 2000s, including seasons one and two of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew and seasons one and two of Sober House.
He is survived by three sons from three different relationships.