Stop The Presses!

Alice in Chains Rocker Mike Starr Dead at 44

Former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr has died in Utah, TMZ confirms.

According to police, Starr's body was found in a Salt Lake City home Monday; they were called to the house at 1:42PM.

Starr is the second Alice in Chains band member to die. In 2002, lead singer Layne Staley died of a drug overdose at the age of 34. 

Born in Hawaii, the 44-year-old rocker was arrested in February for felony possession of a controlled substance. According to Salt Lake City police, Starr had six Xanax pills and six painkillers when he was arrested.

PHOTOS: Celebs we lost in 2010

"It's a terrible shock and tragedy," his father says of his son's March 8 passing.

PHOTOS: Stars gone too soon

In August 2009, Starr joined the cast of Celebrity Rehab, where he sought treatment for heroin addiction at the Pasadena Recovery Center in California. His transition from rehab to the real world was documented on the second season of VH1's Sober House (alongside Dennis Rodman, 49, Heidi Fleiss, 45, and Tom Sizemore, 49).

PHOTOS: Celebrity rehab centers

In addition to his work with Alice in Chains, Starr teamed up with former Rondinelli bandmates Ray Gillen and Bobby Rondinelli in 1992 to form the heavy metal band Sun Red Sun. Joined by Al B. Romano on drums, the band released one album before Gillen died of AIDS-related causes on December 1, 1993; the band broke up shortly after.

 

Get more Us! Follow us on Twitter, Friend us on Facebook, Subscribe to Us Weekly

Photo by Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage

News for You

  • Mom: RI theater threw out disabled girl over noise

    NEW BEDFORD, Mass. (AP) — A woman says she and her 5-year-old developmentally disabled daughter were thrown out of a theater during a "Beauty and the Beast" performance because the girl was making giggling and humming noises she makes when she's happy.

  • Family tweets indicate Kim Kardashian gives birth

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — It looks to be a baby girl for Kim Kardashian and her rapper boyfriend Kanye West. Or does it?

  • 'The Voice' Winner: Who Did the Experts Choose?

    By Jethro Nededog LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - NBC's "The Voice" will crown another winner on Tuesday night's finale. Season 4's three finalists - Daniellle Bradbury, Michelle Shamuel and The Swon Brothers - battled it out for the title on Monday's performance finale episode. Before the performances, coaches Blake Shelton, Adam Levine, Shakira and Usher performed The Beatles' "With A Little Help From My Friends." The Top 16 then got together for the second group performance of the night on Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros' "Home. ...

  • Jenner: Kim Kardashian 'thrilled for the new baby'

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kris Jenner says her daughter Kim Kardashian is thrilled to have a new baby girl.

  • Miss Utah latest beauty queen to botch answer

    LAS VEGAS (AP) — Miss Utah Marissa Powell is the latest beauty queen to trip on national television, not over her gown, but during the interview segment.

  • Cher credits luck for her lengthy career

    UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. (AP) — Cher is no stranger to tabloid fodder.