Original/Former Alice In Chains Bassist, Mike Starr, Dead At 44

Alice In Chains was one of the biggest and most influential bands of the 1990's. Earlier today, former bassist and one of the founding members of the group, Mike Starr, was found dead in Salt Lake City, according to a report from TMZ.com.Police arrived at a SLC house on Tuesday afternoon at just before 2pm and found controlled substances including Xanex and the painkiller Opana, along with the dead body. Mike Starr was 44 years old.

A spokesman for the Salt Lake City Police Dept. said officers responded to call about a possible body at a residence southwest of downtown earlier in the afternoon.

“There is nothing to indicate that this was foul play by another individual,” the spokesman said.

He did not have any information about the state of Starr’s body, or who made the call. The medical examiner’s office will likely conduct an autopsy on Wednesday, but the results of toxicology tests could take up to two months.

In January 2010 Starr was a patient on the third season of “Celebrity Rehab,” a VH1 reality show hosted by addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky. But Starr was unable to beat his demons. He was arrested in Salt Lake City three weeks ago on an outstanding warrant related to an earlier drugs charge, and was also carrying unauthorized prescription medications.

TMZ, which broke the news of Starr’s death, quoted his father as saying, “It’s a terrible shock and tragedy.”