March 21, 2011 – Seattle, Wa - A memorial service for Mike Starr, founding member and bassist of the Seattle rock band Alice In Chains, was held at the water fountain by the Space Needle in his hometown yesterday. The water fountain at the Center was turned into a beautiful tribute for his many friends and family and fans who came to mourn him. Although it had been rumored that his former bandmates would be there, none were reported.
Alice In Chains was founded in 1987 in Seattle as a grunge rock group, and Starr was the founding bass player. They followed the lead of Nirvana’s huge success in Seattle, but were then labeled as “alternative rock.” Ironically their first EP was titled, We Die Young. Starr was kicked out in 1993 for drug problems. The band had continued success through 1996.
Starr, 44, was found dead in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 8. His roommate reported that he had mixed methadone with anxiety medication in the hours before his death. However autopsy results have not confirmed the cause of death. His remains are being held until the completion of those tests, and funeral plans are on hold at this time.
Salt Lake City police had arrested him just weeks ago of a felony possession of Opana, a pain killer, and Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug, and held on $20,000 bail.
Just two years ago Starr appeared on the 2009 season of VH1’s “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew.” See the You Tube video at left, showing him on that show. First hear him talk about how he died once before for "eleven minutes" after Layne "shot him up", then Cobain. In that episode he talks to the mother of former bandmate Layne Stayley, lead vocalist for Alice in Chains, who also died of a heroin overdose in April of 2002 in Seattle. Listen as he communicates his guilt for the first time, that he did not “call 911” when Layne was sick.
Starr is now added to the lengthening list of Seattle rock stars who have died all too young. Jimi Hendrix died of a drug overdose in London on September 18, 1970, age 27; Kurt Cobain committed suicide in his Seattle home about April 5th, 1994, age 27; Layne Stayley was found dead April 20th, 2002, age 34; now Mike Starr, age 44.
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