DJ Adam Goldstein Found Dead
August 28, 2009 7:56 PM Subscribe
Adam Goldstein, AKA DJ AM, found dead in Manhattan. Celebrity DJ survived a plane crash last year and may have died of a drug overdose.
Lindsay Lohan wrote, "i can't believe this ... I'm in shock. why? why? r.i.p. adam.
posted by R. Mutt at 8:04 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by R. Mutt at 8:04 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
I didn't know much about DJ AM until I read an article he wrote in Glamour about his life- he survived a tough childhood, drug abuse, suicide attempts, gastric bypass surgery. And this was before the guy survived a plane crash. He seems like a nice guy trying his best to struggle through it all. I'm sorry for him and his family.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:09 PM on August 28, 2009 [7 favorites]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 8:09 PM on August 28, 2009 [7 favorites]
What I find interesting is that "journalists" can quote Twitter as a source now.
posted by ShadePlant at 8:10 PM on August 28, 2009 [8 favorites]
posted by ShadePlant at 8:10 PM on August 28, 2009 [8 favorites]
what happened to the nice soho i used to know?
posted by billybobtoo at 8:16 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by billybobtoo at 8:16 PM on August 28, 2009
I've never heard about him before. However, how unfortunate. You always hear about people who survive horrific events (and a plane crash is certainly a typical example) and examine their life and actions, usually trying to turn to the better.
Obviously, this didn't happen. What a missed opportunity.
My condolences to family and friends.
posted by purephase at 8:20 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
Obviously, this didn't happen. What a missed opportunity.
My condolences to family and friends.
posted by purephase at 8:20 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]
.
posted by limeonaire at 8:26 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by limeonaire at 8:26 PM on August 28, 2009
I hate the Internet for making me seriously consider the possibility that this was all viral marketing for The Final Destination.
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 8:29 PM on August 28, 2009 [9 favorites]
posted by Donnie VandenBos at 8:29 PM on August 28, 2009 [9 favorites]
shadeplant - how is it any different than the news quoting a celebrity's rep? their twitter at least has a bigger chance of actually being written by them.
DJ AM was going to star in an intervention reality show on MTV. sad it had to go down like this.
posted by nadawi at 8:30 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
DJ AM was going to star in an intervention reality show on MTV. sad it had to go down like this.
posted by nadawi at 8:30 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
AM deserves more than a single link to the Post.
Here you can stream a mix he did for Power 106 in 2005.
Here is a video of him getting people to wild out to the fucking tetris theme song.
And you can download his mixtape collaborations with Travis Barker here (I think Vol. 1 is better than Vol. 2, personally.)
AM was easily one of the best DJs working today. His set lists were ridiculous. Dude knew music like no other.
Rest in Peace, Adam.
posted by cosmic osmo at 8:32 PM on August 28, 2009 [16 favorites]
Here you can stream a mix he did for Power 106 in 2005.
Here is a video of him getting people to wild out to the fucking tetris theme song.
And you can download his mixtape collaborations with Travis Barker here (I think Vol. 1 is better than Vol. 2, personally.)
AM was easily one of the best DJs working today. His set lists were ridiculous. Dude knew music like no other.
Rest in Peace, Adam.
posted by cosmic osmo at 8:32 PM on August 28, 2009 [16 favorites]
I guess the Twitter quoting has a high accuracy potential but phrases like "Lindsay Lohan tweeted ______" in an article about someone's death just seems wrong. Wrong in a vapid, shallow way. Even "Anderson Cooper tweeted ________" sounds quasi-reputable.
posted by ShadePlant at 8:33 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by ShadePlant at 8:33 PM on August 28, 2009
On the other hand, don't discount survivor's guilt. I remember reading that he was having a difficult time dealing with the fact that he survived the crash when others didn't. It's a sad situation, in any case.
posted by Ruki at 8:36 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by Ruki at 8:36 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
As far as I know, I've never seen the name prior to this post. Just to find out who it was that died, I went and read the short article, was quite impressed by his willingness to help others -- I so admire that in a person, aspire to it myself. I hope (foolishly no doubt, like hoping there's a santa claus) that it wasn't drugs that took him out, I hope he was able to hold to his desire to stay clean and sober -- addiction is such a bitch. Though I knew/know nothing of his world ie who he ran with or why, I do know something about decent people and it seems he was one. I'm sorry he's gone.
.
posted by dancestoblue at 8:56 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
.
posted by dancestoblue at 8:56 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
I hate it when I see people die too young.
Just another reminder for all the rest of us that no one is guaranteed their next breath.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 9:01 PM on August 28, 2009
Just another reminder for all the rest of us that no one is guaranteed their next breath.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 9:01 PM on August 28, 2009
From what I've read, he seemed like a genuinely nice guy with a horrifying bunch of problems.
Be nice to each other, folks.
posted by Avenger at 9:05 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
Be nice to each other, folks.
posted by Avenger at 9:05 PM on August 28, 2009 [4 favorites]
He played my office Christmas party a few years ago and was extremely, extremely loud - some points for creativity for figuring out clever ways to present the same old material but I still couldn't get past the loud (and I'm a massive concert-goer with no doubt some hearing loss).
I cursed his name at the time but now I feel a little bad. RIP.
(NB: yes, we did have deluxe Xmas parties...)
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 9:30 PM on August 28, 2009
I cursed his name at the time but now I feel a little bad. RIP.
(NB: yes, we did have deluxe Xmas parties...)
posted by lupus_yonderboy at 9:30 PM on August 28, 2009
My sister i a fairly well-known DJ and played with him at least once in New Orleans. She was super excited to get the chance to play with him, and had nothing but nice things to say about the experience.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:32 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 9:32 PM on August 28, 2009
AM was easily one of the best DJs working today
Not to harm the dead but he also played vanilla ice and bon jovi at rich wedding parties, as I was there. . .
Maybe he just played to his audience, or played to the money.
Whatever the case, drugs fake the thrill of the crowd. Too bad no one is around to see him now.
posted by plexi at 9:35 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Not to harm the dead but he also played vanilla ice and bon jovi at rich wedding parties, as I was there. . .
Maybe he just played to his audience, or played to the money.
Whatever the case, drugs fake the thrill of the crowd. Too bad no one is around to see him now.
posted by plexi at 9:35 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Thanks for the extra links, cosmic osmo.
The Tetris jam makes me really sad that I will never see/hear him live. I'll definitely check out available recordings, though.
^
.
(Jewish mourner with a kippah [head covering])
posted by yiftach at 9:36 PM on August 28, 2009
The Tetris jam makes me really sad that I will never see/hear him live. I'll definitely check out available recordings, though.
^
.
(Jewish mourner with a kippah [head covering])
posted by yiftach at 9:36 PM on August 28, 2009
Very sad. Rest in peace, Adam.
posted by SisterHavana at 9:39 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by SisterHavana at 9:39 PM on August 28, 2009
Adam was a really great guy and a phenominal DJ. I really don't think there are recordings to show how much he changed as a dj when he got into the new wave of electronic music a couple years back. The big parties the got payed crazy money showed only half his talent, that was for money, his day job. If you were lucky enough to catch him play randomly at some sweaty warehouse party in donwtown la, then you know what i'm talking about.
And really, I can't say enough about how nice and genuine of a person he was.
posted by mattsweaters at 10:00 PM on August 28, 2009
And really, I can't say enough about how nice and genuine of a person he was.
posted by mattsweaters at 10:00 PM on August 28, 2009
Sad sad news. And all the typos in the Post article are ridiculous. I second cosmic osmo -- he deserves more than a SLNYP.
.
posted by matthewstopheles at 10:33 PM on August 28, 2009
.
posted by matthewstopheles at 10:33 PM on August 28, 2009
I've been reading about this on facebook and twitter today. Had go look up who the heck this guy was.
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:45 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by blaneyphoto at 10:45 PM on August 28, 2009
never heard of him, and i say this as someone who's pretty into techno... i guess he wasn't techno. my friends' twitter via facebook says he od'd on painkillers and/or meth, but what's that worth ? journalism it's not.
posted by jcruelty at 11:28 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by jcruelty at 11:28 PM on August 28, 2009
I read that same Glamour article a couple years back and really grew to like him after that. He really went through a lot in his life. Perhaps that crash was just the last mountain.
posted by cmgonzalez at 11:31 PM on August 28, 2009
posted by cmgonzalez at 11:31 PM on August 28, 2009
AM deserves more than a single link to the Post.
Really? We're talking about the same guy, right? I like my DJs, but... really? It's DJ AM, not Girl Talk or DJ Shadow or Oakenfold or Mix Master Mike or Q Bert or...
Just another reminder for all the rest of us that no one is guaranteed their next breath.
Especially when they OD.
posted by incessant at 11:31 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Really? We're talking about the same guy, right? I like my DJs, but... really? It's DJ AM, not Girl Talk or DJ Shadow or Oakenfold or Mix Master Mike or Q Bert or...
Just another reminder for all the rest of us that no one is guaranteed their next breath.
Especially when they OD.
posted by incessant at 11:31 PM on August 28, 2009 [1 favorite]
Damn, seemed like a nice guy. But you can only gamble with death so many times.
Just another reminder for all the rest of us that no one is guaranteed their next breath.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies
So we must make the most of every moment!!!!1 /hallmark
posted by Dennis Murphy at 12:23 AM on August 29, 2009
Just another reminder for all the rest of us that no one is guaranteed their next breath.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies
So we must make the most of every moment!!!!1 /hallmark
posted by Dennis Murphy at 12:23 AM on August 29, 2009
Did he try to sue the family's of the pilots and go after their estates?
posted by ashaw at 12:31 AM on August 29, 2009
posted by ashaw at 12:31 AM on August 29, 2009
ashaw - no. here's his quote on the situation.
"I want to take a second to address the hurtful posts and clear up any misunderstandings any of you may have about my lawsuit," AM wrote. "I would NEVER sue the deceased pilots' estates or personal holdings. I am more than grateful that I survived this horrible accident and I'd never try to take anything from those that didn't. Despite the misinterpretations of the lawsuit, this suit is against the insurance companies that insured the pilots.
Everyone involved in this suit has suffered a great deal, and I would not do anything to make matters worse for the deceased family and friends," he added. "I have no words to express the pain that comes with knowing four people died, while I lived."
from pretty much all accounts he was really torn up with survivors guilt, and that little bit of terrible tabloid journalism didn't help matters.
also - to others in this thread - if you don't know who he is and don't care, then why are you commenting in here - just like to hear yourself talk?
posted by nadawi at 12:43 AM on August 29, 2009 [2 favorites]
"I want to take a second to address the hurtful posts and clear up any misunderstandings any of you may have about my lawsuit," AM wrote. "I would NEVER sue the deceased pilots' estates or personal holdings. I am more than grateful that I survived this horrible accident and I'd never try to take anything from those that didn't. Despite the misinterpretations of the lawsuit, this suit is against the insurance companies that insured the pilots.
Everyone involved in this suit has suffered a great deal, and I would not do anything to make matters worse for the deceased family and friends," he added. "I have no words to express the pain that comes with knowing four people died, while I lived."
from pretty much all accounts he was really torn up with survivors guilt, and that little bit of terrible tabloid journalism didn't help matters.
also - to others in this thread - if you don't know who he is and don't care, then why are you commenting in here - just like to hear yourself talk?
posted by nadawi at 12:43 AM on August 29, 2009 [2 favorites]
♪
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:55 AM on August 29, 2009
posted by Smart Dalek at 1:55 AM on August 29, 2009
"if you don't know who he is and don't care, then why are you commenting in here"
Fight noise with noise? "Man battles with drugs, loses" is not exactly news. If his story was so amazing, why didn't we see it when he was still alive?
posted by Eideteker at 2:52 AM on August 29, 2009 [2 favorites]
Fight noise with noise? "Man battles with drugs, loses" is not exactly news. If his story was so amazing, why didn't we see it when he was still alive?
posted by Eideteker at 2:52 AM on August 29, 2009 [2 favorites]
Eideteker: "Fight noise with noise? "Man battles with drugs, loses" is not exactly news. If his story was so amazing, why didn't we see it when he was still alive?"
"Fight noise with noise" is a nice soundbite, but that doesn't make it right, even in a small group, let alone a community the size of MetaFilter. We revel in the differences here, visiting daily to see what things other people find interesting that we've not heard of before. You're now saying that if you find something in that process that you've not heard of, you can try and shout it down? Because you've not heard of it?
Seriously, what the fuck are you doing here? Piss off. Wanker.
posted by benzo8 at 3:21 AM on August 29, 2009 [13 favorites]
"Fight noise with noise" is a nice soundbite, but that doesn't make it right, even in a small group, let alone a community the size of MetaFilter. We revel in the differences here, visiting daily to see what things other people find interesting that we've not heard of before. You're now saying that if you find something in that process that you've not heard of, you can try and shout it down? Because you've not heard of it?
Seriously, what the fuck are you doing here? Piss off. Wanker.
posted by benzo8 at 3:21 AM on August 29, 2009 [13 favorites]
I have to say that I was amazed as well by the use of tweets to pad an article, that's either just strange or I'm getting old (I know, I know)... then I came to a post here that was "my friends' twitter via facebook says...."... and I had to stop reading...
I'll take y'all's word that Adam was a good guy, if so, he deserved a little better reporting...
posted by HuronBob at 3:28 AM on August 29, 2009
I'll take y'all's word that Adam was a good guy, if so, he deserved a little better reporting...
posted by HuronBob at 3:28 AM on August 29, 2009
At the office, we play AOL radio, and the DJ AM channel is by far the best. Thanks to Adam for keeping us entertained while sucking up to customers.
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 4:10 AM on August 29, 2009
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 4:10 AM on August 29, 2009
I thought the story was worthy of noting even though it had nothing to do with liberals, sarcasm, computers, cats, funny videos, bikes, or should-I-make-a-move-on-my-friend-or-not? type material.
posted by ShadePlant at 4:43 AM on August 29, 2009
posted by ShadePlant at 4:43 AM on August 29, 2009
From the article comment thread:
I WONDER WHAT SIZE SNEAKER HE WAS, CHANCES ARE GOOD THE SUPER OF HIS BUILDING IS ALBANIAN AND I CAN STRIKE A DEAL WITH HIM GETTING ME AM'S KICKS
8/29/2009 3:23 AM EDT
Snarking in an obit thread is bad, but this sounds like a whole nother level of LULZ.
posted by spoobnooble at 5:12 AM on August 29, 2009
I WONDER WHAT SIZE SNEAKER HE WAS, CHANCES ARE GOOD THE SUPER OF HIS BUILDING IS ALBANIAN AND I CAN STRIKE A DEAL WITH HIM GETTING ME AM'S KICKS
8/29/2009 3:23 AM EDT
Snarking in an obit thread is bad, but this sounds like a whole nother level of LULZ.
posted by spoobnooble at 5:12 AM on August 29, 2009
Seriously, what the fuck are you doing here?
The same as me - wondering if Metafilter really needs an obit thread about everyone who ever did anything remotely interesting.
posted by sidereal at 5:31 AM on August 29, 2009 [1 favorite]
The same as me - wondering if Metafilter really needs an obit thread about everyone who ever did anything remotely interesting.
posted by sidereal at 5:31 AM on August 29, 2009 [1 favorite]
Obit threads are usually more interesting than I expected for any number of reasons like the additional links, MeFite infighting, historical tidbits, learning how journalism is going to the tweets.
Man, that Glamour article hurt to read. What intense drive this guy had. He had a lot of courage and honesty.
I love that Tetris goes sexual video. You can see and hear the fun he had. A DJ is a player of music. Wouldn't his job be to play to the audience in all senses of that word, play?
He said: The verbal abuse he subjected me to was unbelievably cruel. I would find out later that there was a good reason my father was so tortured—he was secretly gay and addicted to drugs.
Because of the severity the impact of surviving his childhood had on him with obesity, crack addiction and powerful low self esteem, I disagree with his conclusion and suspect his father may have been BPD or NPD. And possibly his mother had/has NPD traits as well.
In my recovery meetings, I was told the solution for low self-esteem was to do estimable acts. Whether it was letting someone over in traffic; calling a friend and saying, “How are you doing today?”; or something more serious, like feeding the homeless at a shelter, I made sure to do one selfless act per day. Then I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone about it. Little by little, I gained confidence in myself. I no longer needed a trophy girlfriend or drugs to feel good about myself.
That's a fascinating self esteem remedy he talked about that I'd never heard of before and it makes good sense. It was excellent he was able to focus on working on the obesity and drug addiction issues. But there are a handful of significant parts to his recovery that it sounds like he did not work on and I think that might have been part of his early demise due to OD.
It sounds like he was stuck in some intensely painful feelings, not being able to heal the wounds and in a lot of chronic emotional distress: loss, loneliness, grieving, unresolved anger. He was doing all the right things but it doesn't sound like his core being was okay, the feelings part.
Self esteem doesn't come just out of estimable acts. Initially, it comes out of being loved, valued for who one is by one or both of one's parents. When a child doesn't have that the experience needs to be recreated in oneself through reparenting, usually with the help of a therapist or recovery friends. I wish he'd been able to find a way to heal, get beyond the depression. He sounded like he really wanted and needed to be a more deeply contented human being.
May he rest in peace.
posted by nickyskye at 5:41 AM on August 29, 2009 [4 favorites]
Man, that Glamour article hurt to read. What intense drive this guy had. He had a lot of courage and honesty.
I love that Tetris goes sexual video. You can see and hear the fun he had. A DJ is a player of music. Wouldn't his job be to play to the audience in all senses of that word, play?
He said: The verbal abuse he subjected me to was unbelievably cruel. I would find out later that there was a good reason my father was so tortured—he was secretly gay and addicted to drugs.
Because of the severity the impact of surviving his childhood had on him with obesity, crack addiction and powerful low self esteem, I disagree with his conclusion and suspect his father may have been BPD or NPD. And possibly his mother had/has NPD traits as well.
In my recovery meetings, I was told the solution for low self-esteem was to do estimable acts. Whether it was letting someone over in traffic; calling a friend and saying, “How are you doing today?”; or something more serious, like feeding the homeless at a shelter, I made sure to do one selfless act per day. Then I wasn’t allowed to tell anyone about it. Little by little, I gained confidence in myself. I no longer needed a trophy girlfriend or drugs to feel good about myself.
That's a fascinating self esteem remedy he talked about that I'd never heard of before and it makes good sense. It was excellent he was able to focus on working on the obesity and drug addiction issues. But there are a handful of significant parts to his recovery that it sounds like he did not work on and I think that might have been part of his early demise due to OD.
It sounds like he was stuck in some intensely painful feelings, not being able to heal the wounds and in a lot of chronic emotional distress: loss, loneliness, grieving, unresolved anger. He was doing all the right things but it doesn't sound like his core being was okay, the feelings part.
Self esteem doesn't come just out of estimable acts. Initially, it comes out of being loved, valued for who one is by one or both of one's parents. When a child doesn't have that the experience needs to be recreated in oneself through reparenting, usually with the help of a therapist or recovery friends. I wish he'd been able to find a way to heal, get beyond the depression. He sounded like he really wanted and needed to be a more deeply contented human being.
May he rest in peace.
posted by nickyskye at 5:41 AM on August 29, 2009 [4 favorites]
DJ AM was also the spokesperson for/star of Activision's upcoming DJ Hero game.
posted by grabbingsand at 6:29 AM on August 29, 2009
posted by grabbingsand at 6:29 AM on August 29, 2009
The Palm Hotel in Las Vegas shows gives their respects to DJAM...
posted by benzo8 at 7:19 AM on August 29, 2009 [3 favorites]
posted by benzo8 at 7:19 AM on August 29, 2009 [3 favorites]
Really? We're talking about the same guy, right? I like my DJs, but... really? It's DJ AM, not Girl Talk or DJ Shadow or Oakenfold or Mix Master Mike or Q Bert or...
Uh, what? Girl Talk is not a DJ. AM is a big name. It's unfortunate that he got saddled with the "celebrity DJ" moniker in tabloids for dating actresses, but he wasn't any Samantha Ronson--ask ANY working DJ today and you'll hear how incredibly talented he was.
Fight noise with noise? "Man battles with drugs, loses" is not exactly news. If his story was so amazing, why didn't we see it when he was still alive?
Uh, we did? Go read the Glamour article that ThePinkSuperhero posted. Read all the coverage of the plane crash he survived with Travis Barker last September. This is a man who literally cheated death twice.
Count me among those who find it incredibly distasteful when people come into obituary threads just to say "who??" Seriously? What the hell is wrong with you? Someone is dead, other people think they are notable enough to talk about, and your contribution to the discourse is "well I'VE never heard of him, so clearly he wasn't THAT important"?
AM's death is incredibly tragic. He had overcome so much in such a short time and was ready to give back to others in need. At the time of his death he was filming an Intervention-style reality show for MTV called Gone Too Far, which, if the death is ruled an overdose (which seems likely, given what we know), will make it an unfortunate lesson on the permanent and pervasive nature of addiction.
Obviously it's just speculation, but I can only imagine the kind of havoc surviving the plane crash wreaked on his sobriety. There's no way he suffered the kinds of burns he did without being given painkillers.
Very sad story all around. I hope those who didn't know who he was will take the time now to find out.
posted by cosmic osmo at 8:10 AM on August 29, 2009 [3 favorites]
Uh, what? Girl Talk is not a DJ. AM is a big name. It's unfortunate that he got saddled with the "celebrity DJ" moniker in tabloids for dating actresses, but he wasn't any Samantha Ronson--ask ANY working DJ today and you'll hear how incredibly talented he was.
Fight noise with noise? "Man battles with drugs, loses" is not exactly news. If his story was so amazing, why didn't we see it when he was still alive?
Uh, we did? Go read the Glamour article that ThePinkSuperhero posted. Read all the coverage of the plane crash he survived with Travis Barker last September. This is a man who literally cheated death twice.
Count me among those who find it incredibly distasteful when people come into obituary threads just to say "who??" Seriously? What the hell is wrong with you? Someone is dead, other people think they are notable enough to talk about, and your contribution to the discourse is "well I'VE never heard of him, so clearly he wasn't THAT important"?
AM's death is incredibly tragic. He had overcome so much in such a short time and was ready to give back to others in need. At the time of his death he was filming an Intervention-style reality show for MTV called Gone Too Far, which, if the death is ruled an overdose (which seems likely, given what we know), will make it an unfortunate lesson on the permanent and pervasive nature of addiction.
Obviously it's just speculation, but I can only imagine the kind of havoc surviving the plane crash wreaked on his sobriety. There's no way he suffered the kinds of burns he did without being given painkillers.
Very sad story all around. I hope those who didn't know who he was will take the time now to find out.
posted by cosmic osmo at 8:10 AM on August 29, 2009 [3 favorites]
♪
What a loss to the dance community. Hopefully he has found some sort of peace now, if only the peace of oblivion.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 8:44 AM on August 29, 2009
What a loss to the dance community. Hopefully he has found some sort of peace now, if only the peace of oblivion.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 8:44 AM on August 29, 2009
I was very very shocked when the news broke yesterday. His life seems to have been one struggle after another, and yet even after the plane crash, he seemed to be trying to chug along as best he could. He was in an interesting niche in the music world, with a level of respect that not many others achieve, and it's a damned shame to see it all come to an end so soon. Accidental death or not, I hope he's finally found some peace. I can't imagine how his friends and family feel. Such a great loss.
.
posted by saturnine at 9:22 AM on August 29, 2009
.
posted by saturnine at 9:22 AM on August 29, 2009
RIP Adam.
Surviving a plane crash, childhood abuse, a suicide attempt, drug and alcohol addictions, and walking away from Crazy Town unscathed. What a life.
The Philadelphia native, whose real name was Adam Michael Goldstein, was a former member of the band Crazy Town, which scored the smash rap-rock hit "Butterfly" in 2001.
posted by porn in the woods at 9:45 AM on August 29, 2009
Surviving a plane crash, childhood abuse, a suicide attempt, drug and alcohol addictions, and walking away from Crazy Town unscathed. What a life.
The Philadelphia native, whose real name was Adam Michael Goldstein, was a former member of the band Crazy Town, which scored the smash rap-rock hit "Butterfly" in 2001.
posted by porn in the woods at 9:45 AM on August 29, 2009
His last Twitter post: New york, new york. Big city of dreams, but everything in new york aint always what it seems.
.
posted by futureisunwritten at 9:48 AM on August 29, 2009
.
posted by futureisunwritten at 9:48 AM on August 29, 2009
If his story was so amazing, why didn't we see it when he was still alive?
Did you read any of the comments in this post? Like mine for example?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:48 PM on August 29, 2009 [1 favorite]
Did you read any of the comments in this post? Like mine for example?
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 12:48 PM on August 29, 2009 [1 favorite]
i'll add a few links..I think the reason he was so popular was because he always played fun stuff and was never worried if a song was old or not hot/hip at the time, people always seemed to have a blast when he played.
AM at edc this year
AM at cinespace a few months ago
posted by mattsweaters at 1:01 PM on August 29, 2009
AM at edc this year
AM at cinespace a few months ago
posted by mattsweaters at 1:01 PM on August 29, 2009
Never heard of him. (and I follow dance music quite closely)
posted by dydecker at 1:06 PM on August 29, 2009
posted by dydecker at 1:06 PM on August 29, 2009
They had a tribute to him on Mark Ronson's East Village Radio show last night and everyone there had nothing but incredible things to say about him, most notably Ronson himself. The most prominent thing mentioned was just how kind the guy was and how he really knew his shit.
His recent breakup was apparently taking quite a toll on him. Add onto that his survivor's guilt and all of the other problems as noted in the Glamour article.
He relapsed. It happens. He was sober for nine years, and it is absolutely horrible of anyone to denounce his death and say he was just another addict given everything that he's been working towards, not just for himself but for others.
Sorry to get on my soapbox a bit, but someone like this should not be glossed over and thrown into the "LOLLAPTOPDJ" category people are so quick to adhere DJs to.
posted by june made him a gemini at 1:26 PM on August 29, 2009 [1 favorite]
Really? We're talking about the same guy, right? I like my DJs, but... really? It's DJ AM, not Girl Talk or DJ Shadow or Oakenfold or Mix Master Mike or Q Bert or..... really? Girl Talk? Have you seen Girl Talk perform live? Are you just namedropping DJs you've heard of on the Top 40? He is nothing compared to AM. He was a legitimate DJ -- the dude was supposedly a co-owner of LAX Nightclub. He had a monthly gig in Las Vegas. He was the guy celebrities would hire for their private events, etc. It doesn't help his case any given the "one-hit-wonder" status and the leader singer's public battle with drugs, but he was also in Crazytown.
His recent breakup was apparently taking quite a toll on him. Add onto that his survivor's guilt and all of the other problems as noted in the Glamour article.
He relapsed. It happens. He was sober for nine years, and it is absolutely horrible of anyone to denounce his death and say he was just another addict given everything that he's been working towards, not just for himself but for others.
Sorry to get on my soapbox a bit, but someone like this should not be glossed over and thrown into the "LOLLAPTOPDJ" category people are so quick to adhere DJs to.
posted by june made him a gemini at 1:26 PM on August 29, 2009 [1 favorite]
This is quite sad. NYT reported that he was about to host a reality show in which he does interventions on addicts, which is a horrible irony in more ways than may be apparent.
While I certainly do not wish anyone dead, if this means the show is canceled, some good will have come from it. The type of interventions they do on TV can actually increase the risk of suicide (Kurt Cobain killed himself the day after one, and his wasn't even televised).
There are better techniques known for getting people into rehab without that risk-- Community Reinforcement and Family Therapy, for example, doubles the chances of getting people to get help compared to those confrontational interventions. Of course, it doesn't make good TV because it is not harsh and dramatic and works with people to build their motivation over time...
posted by Maias at 1:37 PM on August 29, 2009
While I certainly do not wish anyone dead, if this means the show is canceled, some good will have come from it. The type of interventions they do on TV can actually increase the risk of suicide (Kurt Cobain killed himself the day after one, and his wasn't even televised).
There are better techniques known for getting people into rehab without that risk-- Community Reinforcement and Family Therapy, for example, doubles the chances of getting people to get help compared to those confrontational interventions. Of course, it doesn't make good TV because it is not harsh and dramatic and works with people to build their motivation over time...
posted by Maias at 1:37 PM on August 29, 2009
He relapsed. It happens. He was sober for nine years, and it is absolutely horrible of anyone to denounce his death and say he was just another addict given everything that he's been working towards, not just for himself but for others
Indeed.
I watched my coworker try to get clean and sober. It worked for about three or four weeks, she relapsed, and three weeks later she "woke up dead."
I'd say some respect is in order here.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 1:43 PM on August 29, 2009
Indeed.
I watched my coworker try to get clean and sober. It worked for about three or four weeks, she relapsed, and three weeks later she "woke up dead."
I'd say some respect is in order here.
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 1:43 PM on August 29, 2009
(above, make that three DAYS later. Going from sober to dead in one week.)
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 1:43 PM on August 29, 2009
posted by St. Alia of the Bunnies at 1:43 PM on August 29, 2009
This seriously wins the record for the least amount of
.
I've ever seen in a obit thread. Is it because he OD'd or because most people had no idea who he was or.... does Mefi hate ravers? That would make the most sense to me because, well, I hate ravers. I used to be one. It's a lil' embarrassing to think about, and not just because I was so faced at most of the parties I attended that I can't remember shit about them.
Seriously, seriously though; if I narrowly averted death from a plane crash, I think I would have really, really thought about my actions from then on out so I could hopefully live a long, happy life. Not trying to knock the guy or his decisions, to each their own. I was sad to see DJ AM go (who I have seen live many, many years ago), but the circumstances frustrate me endlessly.
posted by Bageena at 5:21 PM on August 29, 2009
.
I've ever seen in a obit thread. Is it because he OD'd or because most people had no idea who he was or.... does Mefi hate ravers? That would make the most sense to me because, well, I hate ravers. I used to be one. It's a lil' embarrassing to think about, and not just because I was so faced at most of the parties I attended that I can't remember shit about them.
Seriously, seriously though; if I narrowly averted death from a plane crash, I think I would have really, really thought about my actions from then on out so I could hopefully live a long, happy life. Not trying to knock the guy or his decisions, to each their own. I was sad to see DJ AM go (who I have seen live many, many years ago), but the circumstances frustrate me endlessly.
posted by Bageena at 5:21 PM on August 29, 2009
I imagine the thread-shitters do their thing because, to me at least, this guy appears to be noteworthy solely because he DJ'd parties for rich celebrities. I mean, I'm sure he's remarkable in his own right and seen as talented in circles beyond the rich celebrity club, but to the majority of us who haven't been to an event he played or heard one of his mixes, he's just some guy who happened to know the right people. I'm not implying anything negative here, just trying to figure why someone might feel the need to be a doo-doo head.
What's interesting to me, I guess, is what he mentions in that Glamour article about the path he was on leading to death. He knew the lifestyle would kill him, and I imagine it's the same way for a lot of other people suffering addiction. Hell, you can throw smokers and compulsive fast food eaters in there too if you like, they're just on a different schedule (note how he puts his diet on somewhat equal footing with the drug abuse). So, assuming it was indeed the lifestyle that killed him, should it be considered suicide? He explicitly stated choosing that path meant choosing death, but he did it anyway. Addiction is a disease, and I think it's probably about time our society treats it as such. He wasn't even legally an adult yet and his problems were addressed with the kind of abusive punishment that an older addict might face in prison, and I'm certain that only exacerbated his illness. I guess in the end it's hard for me to see the difference between him and someone chronically depressed who ultimately commits suicide in a more violent manner. They're both mentally ill, except we typically don't incarcerate the latter just for being that way.
posted by palidor at 6:44 PM on August 29, 2009
What's interesting to me, I guess, is what he mentions in that Glamour article about the path he was on leading to death. He knew the lifestyle would kill him, and I imagine it's the same way for a lot of other people suffering addiction. Hell, you can throw smokers and compulsive fast food eaters in there too if you like, they're just on a different schedule (note how he puts his diet on somewhat equal footing with the drug abuse). So, assuming it was indeed the lifestyle that killed him, should it be considered suicide? He explicitly stated choosing that path meant choosing death, but he did it anyway. Addiction is a disease, and I think it's probably about time our society treats it as such. He wasn't even legally an adult yet and his problems were addressed with the kind of abusive punishment that an older addict might face in prison, and I'm certain that only exacerbated his illness. I guess in the end it's hard for me to see the difference between him and someone chronically depressed who ultimately commits suicide in a more violent manner. They're both mentally ill, except we typically don't incarcerate the latter just for being that way.
posted by palidor at 6:44 PM on August 29, 2009
The Palms in Vegas did this to their signage commemorate him last night as well.
posted by june made him a gemini at 7:36 PM on August 29, 2009 [1 favorite]
posted by june made him a gemini at 7:36 PM on August 29, 2009 [1 favorite]
DC101's Flounder's Mashups is running a tribute, for the next 1:20. Don't know where they're pulling it from, but I miss him more with each cut.
posted by persona at 7:43 PM on August 29, 2009
posted by persona at 7:43 PM on August 29, 2009
well ... if anyone else missed this through the weekend like i did, people magazine is now reporting that when police broke into his apartment (in response to a 911 call from friends with whom he was supposed to be traveling), 'they found the lifeless Goldstein in bed, wearing sweatpants, and a crack pipe nearby. They also discovered a half bag of crack cocaine and prescription drugs.'
what a sad, sad ending to a difficult life with what could have been a storybook ending. although i guess it still is a storybook ending. just not the happy kind.
a guy i used to go to meetings with was fond of saying, 'some of us must die so the rest of us can live.' and he always said it two times: 'some of us must die so the rest of us can live.' i thought that was one of the most terrible things i'd ever heard. until i understood what he meant.
rest in peace, am, and rest assured that sometimes the best example is a bad example.
.
posted by msconduct at 9:46 AM on August 31, 2009
what a sad, sad ending to a difficult life with what could have been a storybook ending. although i guess it still is a storybook ending. just not the happy kind.
a guy i used to go to meetings with was fond of saying, 'some of us must die so the rest of us can live.' and he always said it two times: 'some of us must die so the rest of us can live.' i thought that was one of the most terrible things i'd ever heard. until i understood what he meant.
rest in peace, am, and rest assured that sometimes the best example is a bad example.
.
posted by msconduct at 9:46 AM on August 31, 2009
I think that's a horrible, false saying: there's no reason some addicts must die in order for others to live. That's like saying some people must die of cancer as an example to others. So, you wanna be the one we leave untreated as that person? Wtf?
Either you believe addiction is a disease-- or you believe it's a moral issue. If it's a disease, why do some need to die? "As an example" means you see it as a moral issue.
That type of saying is part of the same lousy tough love philosophy that probably helped kill this guy. It's like, "We better not have clean needles so that people will see others die of AIDS as an example." Or, "we better not provide naloxone to reverse overdose, otherwise kids will use drugs." Try telling that to someone's loved ones!
I just read that he went to an insanely abusive tough love program very early in his history. If he hadn't been traumatized by that, he may well have had a very different life. Grr that makes me furious!
posted by Maias at 2:41 PM on August 31, 2009
Either you believe addiction is a disease-- or you believe it's a moral issue. If it's a disease, why do some need to die? "As an example" means you see it as a moral issue.
That type of saying is part of the same lousy tough love philosophy that probably helped kill this guy. It's like, "We better not have clean needles so that people will see others die of AIDS as an example." Or, "we better not provide naloxone to reverse overdose, otherwise kids will use drugs." Try telling that to someone's loved ones!
I just read that he went to an insanely abusive tough love program very early in his history. If he hadn't been traumatized by that, he may well have had a very different life. Grr that makes me furious!
posted by Maias at 2:41 PM on August 31, 2009
one more link..if you're questioning his relevancy to djing and electronic music.
A-Track on AM
posted by mattsweaters at 3:43 PM on August 31, 2009
A-Track on AM
posted by mattsweaters at 3:43 PM on August 31, 2009
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posted by orthogonality at 8:04 PM on August 28, 2009 [2 favorites]