Alice in Chains Bass Player Mike Starr Remembered One Year Later

2012-03-08

Story by Anne Erickson

Alice in Chains’ Mike Starr passed away one year ago today

It’s hard to believe, but a full year has passed since Alice in Chains bass player Mike Starr was found dead in a Salt Lake City home. The legendary rock musician was only 44 years old.

One of the founding members of the seminal Seattle grunge band Alice in Chains, Starr struggled with addiction throughout his life, but that didn’t overshadow his great musical talent. Starr appeared on the third season of VH1’s reality show, “Celebrity Rehab,” in 2009. The series showcased Starr in his greatest need, and unfortunately, it wasn’t able to save him.

Upon hearing the news about Starr’s passing last year, “Celebrity Rehab” host Dr. Drew Pinksy responded to Starr’s death by Tweeting, “Devastating to hear of Mike Starr succumbing to his illness. So very sad. Our prayers are with his family.”

Loss and heartbreak is no stranger to the Alice in Chains crew, seeing that former Alice in Chains vocalist Layne Staley passed away in spring 2002 after overdosing on a mix of heroin and cocaine. The band came back in 2009 with a new studio album, “Black Gives Way to Blue,” featuring new vocalist William DuVall, along with guitarist Jerry Cantrell, drummer Sean Kinney and bassist Mike Inez. Starr left the group in 1993.

Earlier this year, the 2012 Grammy Award show paid tribute to many great musicians that the world lost over the past year with a montage of faces and sounds, but Starr was left out of the tribute. Fans will never forget his seminal influence on grunge and popular music, though, and his playing lives on via various Alice in Chains recordings today.

 




Anne Erickson
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Posted by Anne Erickson | Alternative, Grunge, Music, Rock News

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