Mike Starr, the founding bassist for Alice In Chains who had long struggled with addiction, has died.
According to TMZ, Starr was found dead by authorities in a house in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Starr played bass in grunge-metal pioneers Alice In Chains from their beginning, leaving the band during the touring engagements following the release of their breakthrough 1992 album Dirt.
Singer Layne Staley told Rolling Stone in 1994 that Starr left the band due to “a difference in priorities. We wanted to continue intense touring and press, Mike was ready to go home.”
Layne Staley was found dead in 2002 following a long battle with heroin addiction and Starr also struggled with drug addiction.
Starr appeared in VH1 reality TV series Celebrity Rehab last year, declaring himself six months sober in a follow-up episode.
He was also arrested on suspicion of felony drug possession in Salt Lake City on February 18 this year.
He was 44.
