Alice in Chains Bassist Mike Starr Dies

After years of struggling with and trying to overcome his demons, they eventually caught up with rocker Mike Starr, the original bassist of Alice in Chains. Starr was found dead in his room in Utah – he was only 44.

The rocker has a long history of drug abuse and even made an appearance in season 3 of Celebrity Rehab. He followed that up with another appearance on Sober House.

Things seemed to have gone downhill for him in recent months, E! Online reports, thus pushing him back to his old ways, as police documents reveal.

He was arrested on an outstanding warrant and was found in possession of a high quantity of pills, which prompted talk that he was no longer clean.

“The original bassist for Alice in Chains was found dead Tuesday in Utah. He was 44. Cause of death has not yet been released,” E! Online reports.

“Starr was arrested last month in Salt Lake City on suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance for allegedly having six Xanax pills and six tablets of the painkiller Opana,” the e-zine further says.

Reports in the media suggest that there was no evidence of foul play in Starr’s death, which means that he may have OD-ed.

Starr was on the reality show Celebrity Rehab to treat an addiction to heroin, which is also the reason for which he was booted from Alice in Chains in 1993, or so he claimed while on the show.

Dr. Pinsky, who worked with Starr towards his recovery during his stay at the center and on the program, took to Twitter to express his regret at his passing.

“Devastating to hear of Mike Starr succumbing to his illness. So very sad. Our prayers are with his family,” Dr. Drew Pinsky tweeted hours after word of Starr’s death got out.