Seth Binzer, lead singer of Crazy Town, known as “Shifty Shellshock”, dies at 49

Seth Binzer, who performed under the stage name Shifty Shellshock and was the lead singer of Crazy Town, has died. He was 49 years old.

The news was confirmed by Binzer’s spokeswoman Kelly Springer, who told CNN her client was “a brave fighter. So full of talent, light, compassion, love and grace. He will be missed by so many. He was one of those souls who was magnetic. We will miss you, Seth. We are heartbroken. Thank you for your talent and contribution to our music industry. We were all blessed to have had you.”

According to online records from the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, Binzer died Monday in Los Angeles. The cause of death is listed as “deferred” pending further investigation.

Binzer was, among other things, the lead singer of the famous song “Butterfly” by Crazy Town.

Binzer and Bret Mazur founded the rap-rock band in the mid-1990s, and Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein later joined the group.

Crazy Town became popular in the early 2000s when the hit song “Butterfly” was released and spent two weeks on the Billboard Hot 100.

The band sold over six million copies of their 1999 debut album “The Gift of the Game”.

After Crazy Town released their second studio album “Darkhorse” in 2002, Binzer and Mazur split up.

According to the band’s bio on their Facebook page, Binzer subsequently worked as a songwriter, producer and sound engineer for bands such as The Plain White Tees, Julien K and Hollywood Undead, to name a few.

Binzer has spoken openly about his struggle with drug addiction, most notably through his appearances on the 2008 season of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew and two seasons of Sober House between 2009 and 2010.

“I have a really good group of people around me,” Binzer said in an episode of the 2023 Punk Rock MBA podcast. “I’m very grateful to be here.”

He added that he continues to make music, describing it as something that “has become my therapy for myself. Even if nobody understands it and it helps me, then I guess it’s good. And if people love it, that’s even better.”

Earlier this year, Binzer released a remix of “Butterfly” titled “Butterfly (New Anthem)” in collaboration with rock band Black Oxygen. In March, he also released an EP titled “Flirting With Disaster” under the band name Crazy Town X, along with band members Mark_CXT, DJ Rick One and Sean Heenan.

In one of his last Instagram posts, Binzer reflected on his sobriety, writing in April that he was “grateful.”

“I am more of a lover than a fighter,” he wrote. “But the person I need to love more than fight with is myself.”

This story has been updated.

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