seth binzer

Shifty Shellshock

Background information
Birth name	Seth Brooks Binzer
Also known as	Shifty Shellshock
Born	August 23, 1974 (1974-08-23) (age 36) Los Angeles, California
Occupations	Singer, Actor, MC
Years active	1992–present
Associated acts	Paul Oakenfold, Crazy Town, Epic Mazur

Shifty Shellshock on the red carpet in 2007.

Shifty Shellshock (born Seth Brooks Binzer on August 23, 1974)^[1] is an American music artist, best known as founder and front man of Crazy Town.

1 Music career
2 Personal life
3 Addiction problems and Reality shows
4 Solo discography
5 Filmography
6 References
7 External links

Music career

Binzer met fellow Crazy Town front-man Bret Mazur in 1992; they started collaborating under the name "The Brimstone Sluggers". By early 1999, they formed the group Crazy Town.^[2] In 2000 Crazy Town was signed to tour with Ozzfest, however they were forced to withdraw after only two weeks when Binzer was arrested after he threw a chair through a window while he was drunk.^[2]^[3]

The band's single Butterfly reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,^[4] prompting sales of their debut album, The Gift of Game, to exceed 1.5 million.^[5]

Their 2002 follow-up album, Darkhorse,^[6] was a commercial failure by comparison, and the band broke up shortly after its release.^[7] During Crazy Town's hiatus, Binzer released his first solo album, Happy Love Sick, in 2004. Crazy Town announced they had reformed in 2007,^[8] and performed live for the first time in five years in August 2009.^[9] They are currently working on a third album.

Binzer is currently fronting the group "Shifty and The Big Shots". They released their first single, "Save Me", on July 6, 2010.^[10]

Personal life

In a 2001 interview with Rolling Stone Binzer admitted to spending three months in the California Institution for Men following an attempted break and entry, to selling and using recreational drugs over a period of several years, as well as to struggling with drug addiction.^[2]

Addiction problems and Reality shows

Celebrity Rehab 1

Following his struggle with substance abuse, Binzer was one of nine celebrities featured in the first season of VH1's Celebrity Rehab.^[11] Upon arrival at the Pasadena Recovery Center (which was filmed as part of Celebrity Rehab's first episode) Binzer was in a sober state, but brought along a couple of Red Stripe beers, which were quickly confiscated. Binzer told Dr. Drew Pinsky that he is motivated to achieve sobriety and admitted that cocaine will be the toughest drug for him to avoid.

Celebrity Rehab 2

He graduated from treatment with the other cast members in the summer of 2007, but subsequently appeared towards the end of Celebrity Rehab 2, following a relapse. Dr. Drew and Binzer's sponsor retrieved him from his hotel room where he had been using and brought him to the Pasadena Recovery Center where they, along with Bob Forrest, pleaded with him to reenter treatment immediately. Binzer agreed to reenter treatment but said he needed "an hour or two" to "chill" and "get a cup of coffee", so he can ready himself for treatment. Realizing that his subterfuge was not fooling anyone (he wanted the time to have another fix), he admitted his intentions saying "even though I don't like the drugs, I like 'em". As Binzer got up to leave Dr. Drew said to Binzer's sponsor "If he stops breathing call the paramedics." Under the supervision of his sponsor, Binzer scored drugs and returned to the rehab facility that night in an intense state of crack cocaine induced intoxication and smoked the remainder of his crack on the roof. He eventually entered the facility and reentered treatment.

Sober House 1

Binzer also appeared on a follow-up show entitled Sober House. However, on July 25, 2008 while shooting scenes for the show, Binzer was insulted at a club and responeded by walking out on production and embarking on a heavy relapse.^[12] To the annoyance of Dr. Drew, Bob Forrest and several of his housemates, he treated his relapse like a game and sent everyone coded videos on his MySpace about his current location. William Smith, an employee of Dr. Drew, eventually sought out Binzer at a motel and brought him back to the rehab facility. An embarrassed Binzer pledged to Smith and Dr. Drew that the binge he embarked on was his last. On the show's final episode Binzer is shown in the preliminary stages of being signed to a record producer for a new song, and resolves to stay sober.

Sober House 2

On the August 30, 2009 episode of Loveline Dr. Drew gave an emotional eulogy to his good friend (and Binzer's bandmate) Adam Goldstein (better known as DJ AM), who died two days previous from an accidental drug overdose shortly after breaking 11 years of sobriety. During the tribute Dr. Drew mentioned that Binzer's problems with addiction continued after Sober House 1, eventually leading Binzer to take part in Sober House 2. When filming for Sober House 2 began, Dr. Drew got a "distress call" from Seth (filmed as part of the season's second episode) and the two met, with Seth revealing to Drew that his thirst for drugs is still very much active, and that he needs more help. Dr. Drew reluctantly allowed him to take part in the show and firmly stated that it will be the last time he gives him treatment. Dr. Drew has voiced his hope that Goldstein's death will inspire Binzer to remain sober. Binzer would later thank Dr. Drew for his tough love.

Solo discography

Albums

Year	Album details
2004	Happy Love Sick UK release: July 13 US release: September 6 Label: Maverick
2010	Flirting With Disaster UK release: Unreleased US release: Unreleased Label:

Singles

Year	Title	Peak chart positions
Year	Title	ITA ^[13]	UK ^[14]	SWE ^[15]	SWI ^[16]	FRA ^[17]	AUS ^[18]	NLD ^[19]	GER ^[20]	NZ ^[21]	US Hot 100 ^[22]	US Top 40 ^[22]
2002	Starry Eyed Surprise (featured with Paul Oakenfold)	—	6	—	—	—	37	53	—	19	41	13
2004	Slide Along Side	11	29	36	42	45	48	24	63	—	—	38
2004	Turning Me On	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"—" denotes a single that did not chart