Posted on 08/28/2009 6:19:40 PM PDT by My Favorite Headache
DJ AM, the sought-after disc jockey who became a celebrity in his own right with high-profile romances and a glamorous lifestyle, was found dead Friday at his apartment, which had drug paraphernalia in it, a law enforcement official said.
Paramedics had to break down the door to his Manhattan apartment before they found his body at about 5:20 p.m., the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because family hadn't been notified. There was no evidence of foul play, the official said.
DJ AM, whose real name was Adam Goldstein, had talked openly about past addictions to crack cocaine, Ecstasy and other drugs, but he claimed he had been drug-free for years.
He died nearly a year after surviving a South Carolina plane crash that killed four people and seriously injured rock musician Travis Barker.
Goldstein, 36, was a deejay for hire who performed at Hollywood's most exclusive parties and was admired by music aficionados. He also was famous for past relationships with the reality TV star Nicole Richie, the daughter of singer Lionel Richie, and with actress-singer Mandy Moore.
Goldstein was critically injured last September when a Learjet crashed on takeoff in Columbia, South Carolina. The plane was transporting Goldstein and Barker, a drummer for the pop punk band Blink-182, after a performance; the pair had formed the duo TRVSDJ-AM.
Barker and Goldstein were burned, though Barker was injured more severely. Goldstein had to get skin graft surgery, but about a month later, he was performing again, joining Jay-Z on stage.
At the time, he told People magazine he was grateful to survive.
Exactly. Pretty sad...
Me - New York and clueless...
what is the back story?
Never heard of him... sounds like I didn’t miss much.
Career
Goldstein was a member of the rock band Crazy Town, known for their hit “Butterfly”. He has also scratched on albums for Papa Roach, Madonna, Will Smith, and Shifty and played concerts with Jay-Z. He has played private events for celebrities like Jim Carrey, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Stiller, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, and Kate Hudson. [1] He had had a one-year contract with Las Vegas’ Pure Nightclub inside Caesar’s Palace to play at the venue every Friday and opening a nightclub at Caesars Atlantic City called Dusk.[2]
He had recently collaborated with Travis Barker of Blink-182 and +44 in several performances, including the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards. On December 1. 2008, TV Guide reported that DJ AM would make his first appearance with Travis Barker since the two survived the plane crash. The duo performed at New Year’s Nation’s Los Angeles 2008 New Year’s Eve Party at The Wiltern. Their performance was streamed live on the Internet via New Year’s Nation’s official site, and was broadcast at other New Year’s Nation parties across the U.S.[3][4] Before the gig Barker told press, “I’m ready to get back onstage with AM and continue to rock the house. I’m very excited to bring in the New Year in my hometown of L.A.”[5]
His reality television appearances include Punk’d, where his former fiance, Nicole Richie, was the subject of a practical joke, and the third season of The Simple Life. Goldstein appears as himself in the “What About Bob?” episode of Entourage’s third season; He gets the last pair of an exclusive line of shoes, right before Vince (Adrian Grenier) and Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) arrive.
He was also a co-owner of the popular club LAX.
In 2009, DJ AM became Rain Nightclub’s regular Friday night DJ.[6]
Plane crash
Main article: 2008 South Carolina Learjet 60 crash
On September 19, 2008, after having performed at a college event with frequent collaborator Travis Barker, Goldstein was seriously injured when a Learjet he was traveling in crashed on takeoff in Columbia, South Carolina. The crash killed both crew members and two other passengers, and critically injured Goldstein and Barker.[7] They were both transported to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia, and were both listed in critical condition.[8] According to reports, Goldstein suffered burns on his hands and part of his head. His ex-girlfriend, singer Mandy Moore, with whom he is still close, flew to be by his side at the Georgia hospital where he was staying,[9][10] Mr. Goldstein was released from the hospital on September 26, 2008, a spokeswoman told AP.[11]
In December 2008, Goldstein filed a civil lawsuit against the plane’s charter company, Learjet and Goodyear tires; the suit claims negligence on the part of the pilots and a manufacturing defect on the part of the plane. Goldstein was asking for damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement and loss of earnings.[12] Goldstein was the last passenger to file a civil suit; the estates of deceased passengers Chris Baker and Charles Still have already filed suits, as has crash survivor Travis Barker, although Barker and Still’s suits did not name the deceased pilots as defendants.[13]
Personal life
After gastric bypass surgery, Goldstein dated socialite and reality TV star Nicole Richie. The engagement was announced in early 2005. On December 7, 2005, both he and Richie called off the engagement.[14]
After his breakup with Butler, Goldstein dated singer/actress Mandy Moore.[15] They broke off the relationship in March 2007.[16]
DJ AM was an avid “sneakerhead” (posting on sneaker enthusiast message board Niketalk.com), he collected athletic shoes, primarily Nikes. His collection of over 600 shoes includes a pair of Nike Air Force 1 shoes that were created specifically for him, with his DJ AM logo appearing on the shoe itself. In a new commercial, he starred alongside Mike Epps and Kobe Bryant sporting the Nike Air Yeezy, the signature shoe for Kanye West.[17]
Death
DJ AM was found dead at his New York City apartment at around 5:20 P.M. Friday, August 28, 2009. He was 36 years old.[18]
TMZ reported that friends called the police, who broke down the door and then found DJ AM’s body. Sources say this may have been caused by the drug use.[19] Sources said drug paraphernalia was found in the apartment.[20]
An AM DJ found dead in the PM?
Why is this “news” worthy of the FreeRepublic?
Cops found prescription drug bottles inside DJ AM’s residence at 210 Lafayette St. after the 36-year-old’s lifeless body spotted face-down in his bed at around 5:23 p.m. by a friend, who was concerned he hadn’t heard from the performer in several days, sources said.
Prescription drugs and a crack pipe were found at the scene. Bottles of pills were found in both the bedroom and the kitchen. He was wearing sweatpants and no shirt.
Who?
Who?
And why should anyone care?
Another Hollywood leftist succumbs to bad life choices?
scratched?
Hell, I was just scratching too.
What a blessing it is not be rich and famous! They can buy whatever they want but true inner peace, contentment are not for sale. Yet they look for it in all the wrong places (drugs). MJ, FM AC and.........
Drugs, sneakers and nicole ritchie?
God Bless America...
and who raised this poor asshole?
Michael "Mike D" Diamond, Adam "MCA" Yauch, and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz
Probably survivor’s guilt or PTSD....lots of people have a hard time dealing with it afterwards and resort to drugs, alcohol, etc. But you’re right, he had a second chance, which a lot of people don’t get. My husband was seriously wounded in Iraq and he really struggled for 2 1/2 years with it all and I remember getting so angry with him several times and telling him that God gave him a second chance at life, with us, and I couldn’t understand (intellectually, but then again I wasn’t the one who had been blown up) why he was screwing it up. Fortunately though, he finally found some good help and continues to go get help to this day.
And given his prior history of drug abuse, it was “easier” to deal with it all through drugs.
No, that was Pete Townsend, Roger Daltry, John Entwhistle and Keith Moon.
He wasn’t Tiesto, David Guetta, Chris Lake, Ferry Corsten, Kaskade or Deadmau5... so evidently he wasn’t.
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