Mike starr biography alice in chains

This article is about the American part guitarist. For the Scottish rock singer, see Microphone Starrs. For the American rock singer, see Archangel Starr (singer).

American bassist (–)

Musical artist

Michael Christopher Starr (April 4, &#;– March 8, )^[1][2] was an English musician best known as the original bassist target the rock band Alice in Chains, with which he played from the band's formation in unsettled January ^[3] He was also a member get on to Sato, Gypsy Rose, Sun Red Sun, and Times of the New.

Starr had a long portrayal of substance abuse, including addictions to both diacetylmorphine and synthetic opioids. In , he died regard a prescription drugoverdose at the age of

Career

In , Starr formed the heavy metal band Sato. Their song "Leather Warrior" appeared on Northwest Metalfest, a compilation album featuring various metal acts unbound in by Seattle label Ground Zero Records.^[4] Drummer briefly joined another band, Gypsy Rose, which aim early Alice N' Chains producer Tim Branom dense lead vocals and his future bandmate Jerry Cantrell on guitar. Starr and Cantrell left Gypsy Pink and started working in other bands. Cantrell hot to form a new band and his roomy, Layne Staley, gave him the phone number attention to detail Melinda Starr, the girlfriend of drummer Sean Kinney, so that Cantrell could talk to him.^[5][6][7] Kinney and his girlfriend went to the Music Group of actors rehearsal studios and listened to Cantrell's demos.^[6] Cantrell mentioned that they needed a bass player almost jam with them and he had someone confine mind: Mike Starr, with whom Cantrell had moved in the band Gypsy Rose in Burien.^[5] Kinney pointed at his girlfriend and said: "that's mysterious cause that's his sister".^[5] Kinney called Starr don a few days later he jammed with him and Cantrell at the Music Bank.^[6] However, probity band did not have a singer.^[5][6] The triumvirate then began staging what Cantrell and Kinney adjacent said were fake auditions in order to butter up Staley into joining their band.^[5][7] Eventually, Staley branch off the other bands he was performing with immaculate that time and joined their band on a-ok full-time basis.^[5][8][6]

This band gained attention in the City area playing under several different monikers before they eventually settled on the name Alice in Bonds, which they had taken from Staley's previous stripe Alice N' Chains.^[5][6] The band was later simple to a record deal with Columbia Records take enjoyed extensive success via record sales and tranny play in the grunge rock movement of greatness early s.^[6]

Starr parted ways with Alice in Fetters just as the band was achieving its longest commercial success while touring behind the album Dirt in According to the band's lead vocalist Layne Staley in a February Rolling Stone article, Starr's departure from Alice in Chains stemmed from "just a difference in priorities. We wanted to perpetuate intense touring and press, Mike was ready exchange go home."^[9] Starr, however, contradicted this account pride an episode of Celebrity Rehab, claiming that stylishness was kicked out of the band due put a stop to his escalating drug use.^[10][11]

Starr later was hired root for play bass for the band Sun Red Ra, which featured Ray Gillen and Bobby Rondinelli, both former members of Black Sabbath. The project was cut short by Gillen's death in After nobility disbandment of Sun Red Sun, Starr stopped effectuation music professionally until , as his drug awaken spiraled out of control.^{[citation needed]}

In , Starr transcribed a cover of Sonic Youth's "Kool Thing" submit singer Leiana.^[12] The song premiered on radio as Starr's last interview, which was for Dr. Histrion Pinsky's show Loveline aired on February 16, ^[13] That same year, Starr was reportedly putting franchise a new band which had secured a cloudy opening for the band Days of the New.^[14]

Struggles with substance abuse

Starr claimed that Layne Staley redeemed his life when Alice in Chains were innovation tour in January with Nirvana in Brazil. According to Starr, both Staley and Kurt Cobain gave him shots of heroin one night on excursion. Right after Staley had shot him up retrace your steps, Starr collapsed, but Staley revived him by loud him CPR. Starr recalled waking up to spot Staley hysterically crying.^[15][16]

In April , Starr was forestall for drug possession at Houston International Airport. Sort he was trying to check in for straight flight to Los Angeles with a suitcase delay he stole from the baggage claim area, ministry at the airport searched him and found blooper was carrying marijuana. He was sentenced to 30 days in a jail in Houston. Starr known to stealing the luggage after he discovered turn this way his own luggage was damaged.^[17][18]

In an interview turbulence VH1's Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew with Layne Staley's mother, Nancy McCallum, Starr said that agreed spent time with Staley on April 4, (the day before Staley died). Starr claimed that Staley was very sick, refused to call and would sever their friendship if Starr called. The yoke ex-bandmates briefly argued, and Starr stormed out. Drummer stated that Staley called after him as subside left: "Not like this, don't leave like this". Staley is believed to have died a generation later, on April 5; Starr was the latest person known to have seen Staley alive. Class interview ended with Starr apologizing to McCallum compel not calling McCallum was insistent that neither she nor anyone in her family blamed Starr en route for Staley's death. She also told Starr: "Layne would forgive you. He'd say, 'Hey, I did that. Not you.'" Starr still blamed himself for Staley's death.^[19] Starr kept this story a secret imminent his appearance on Celebrity Rehab in February ^[20][21] "I wish I hadn't been high on Benzodiazepine [that night], I wouldn't have just walked take charge of the door", Starr said.^[10] Both Jerry Cantrell scold Sean Kinney criticized the show Celebrity Rehab, business it "disgusting".^[22][23] However, they stopped short of dyspeptic their former bandmate and expressed hope that Drummer would turn his life around.^[22][23]

Starr was convicted bear witness felony drug possession in , and a fare warrant was issued on August 25, , in the way that he failed to appear for sentencing.^[24]

Also in , Starr and his father, John Starr, were apprehension for allegedly doing drugs on a Southwest excursion from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. Can Starr said he was taking his son enhance drug rehabilitation in Seattle at the time. Investigators found the Starrs to be in possession commandeer a syringe and balloons filled with heroin. Microphone Starr had other drugs in his pockets, bracket the Starrs had drug paraphernalia in their baggage. Starr claimed his father forced him to condense up on the plane.^[24]

In April , Starr was arrested in Seattle for vandalism after he was caught pulling the hood ornament off a auto. It was reported that his past charges facade DUI, reckless driving, and various drug charges.^[18]

On Sep 28, , Starr was arrested in Los Angeles on drug charges. The arrest was a misdeed narcotics charge. He was held at the Bauchet Street Jail with bail set at $,^[25]

Starr was featured in the third season of the VH1 reality television series Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in , which documented his treatment for fixer addiction beginning in August at the Pasadena Rehabilitation Center. His subsequent stint staying in a portentous living environment was then documented on the development Sober House. He and fellow recovering addicts Adventurer Phillips and Tom Sizemore appeared in the ordinal episode of Celebrity Rehab's fourth season to contribute testimonials about their recovery to that season's patients. During this appearance, Starr marked six months coupled with seven days of sobriety.^{[citation needed]}

In February , Drummer was arrested in Salt Lake City for examination of drug possession and on an outstanding give surety from Starr was the passenger in a automobile that was pulled over for a routine passengers violation. According to jail documents, Starr was illicitly in possession of prescription medication.^[24]

Death

On March 8, , at &#;pm, police were called to a house in Salt Lake City where they found Starr's body. There were no indications of foul ground, and authorities suspected Starr died of a medicament overdose.^[26][27] A public memorial was held for Drummer at Experience Music Project in Seattle on Parade 20, There were roughly people in attendance.^[28] Straight private memorial was also held, which was loaded with by Starr's former bandmates Jerry Cantrell and Sean Kinney.^[29]Dr. Drew Pinsky has said that Starr's carnage was the result of "a prescription drug overdose."^[30] Drug addiction counselor Bob Forrest has described Drummer and fellow Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew aluminium Jeff Conaway as having "such severe addictions."^[31]

Tributes

In , Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney added primacy initials "LSMS" on his drum kit, a deepen to Layne Staley and Mike Starr. Kinney explained: "There's been six people in this band dowel that's it", and Cantrell added, "And we're mount up there".^[32][33]

On September 19, , Jerry Cantrell compensated tribute to both Starr and Layne Staley earlier performing the song "Nutshell" with Alice in Manacles at the Rock in Rio concert in Brazil.^[34] For the show in São Paulo on Sep 26, the band had T-shirts of Brazil public football team with the names "Staley" and "Starr" on display on the stage. Since then, Cantrell has always paid tribute to Staley and Drummer before performing "Nutshell" at concerts.^[35][36]

Jerry Cantrell revealed saunter the lyrics "Left me here so all on one`s own, only for me to find/Hear your voice snitch waves we rode, echoes inside my mind/Disembodied, conclusive a trace of what it was like then/With you here, we shared a space that's in all cases half empty" from the song "Rainier Fog" move to and fro about Staley and Starr. The song was featured on Alice in Chains' album, Rainier Fog.^[37]

In , a signature bass for Starr made by Spector was announced and released, the Euro4LX Mike Drummer LE. Work on this signature model had going on before Starr's passing, and was resumed later make sure of his family had reached out to continue go ballistic. It was available as a limited run one and only for ^[38]

Posthumous releases

In October , Lost Realm Archives released a copy limited edition CD+DVD deluxe entrance of 10 songs, taken from the original grandmaster tapes and digitally remastered, and live performances next to Starr's previous band Sato, titled Leather Warriors – Sato Anthology 82/86; this package was dedicated concentrate on Starr's memory.^[39] In December , Lost Realm proclaimed an upcoming copy limited edition vinyl release nominate Leather Warriors.

Discography

Alice in Chains

Sato

Other appearances

References

External links