Shifty Shellshock of Crazy Town has passed away at 49

Shifty Shellshock, the frontman of the rap-rock band Crazy Town, has passed away at the age of 49. Shellshock, whose real name was Seth Binzer, was best known for the band’s 2001 hit single “Butterfly,” which topped the US charts and reached number three in the UK. 

Binzer founded Crazy Town in 1995 with Bret ‘Epic’ Mazur, initially envisioning the band as a hip-hop group with a full backing band.

Despite initial setbacks and lack of success with their first album “The Gift Of The Game,” “Butterfly” propelled the band to stardom with its infectious chorus. The track marked a departure from their previous more chauvinistic lyrics, as Shellshock explained to Billboard’s Fred Bronson. 

However, Crazy Town struggled to replicate the achievement of “Butterfly,” with subsequent singles failing to make a significant impact on the charts.

Following disappointing sales of their second album “Darkhorse,” the band disbanded in 2002. Shellshock then embarked on a solo career, releasing “Happy Love Sick,” which enjoyed moderate success in Europe.

Shifty Shellshock briefly reunited with Mazur for one more Crazy Town album in 2015 before going solo again.  He was candid about his battles with addiction, recounting his past troubles with the law and substance abuse. Despite a tumultuous personal life, he continued to perform, even reuniting with his bandmates for gigs as recently as May 2024. 

Shellshock is survived by his three children – Halo, Gage, and Phoenix – and leaves behind a legacy of music that resonated with fans worldwide. The cause of his death on June 24, 2024, remains undisclosed. 

Continue reading: Julio Foolio, 26-year-old Rapper shot dead in Tampa