The Inquisitr » DJ AM

DJ AM Death Ruled “Accidental”

AHN — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:00:32 +0000

DJ AM’s death has been ruled “accidental.” The New York City Medical Examiner has determined the musician – who was found dead in his New York apartment last month – died of “acute intoxication” due to “substance abuse.”

Gossip website TMZ claims the official coroner’s report reveals the 36-year-old star – real name Adam Goldstein – was taking cocaine, oxycodone, Vicodin, Ativan, Klonopin, Xanax, Benadryl and levamisole at the time of his death.

The star, who was once engaged to Nicole Richie, had battled drug addictions in the past. His funeral – which was held at Los Angeles’ Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary on September 2 – paid tribute to his attempts to get sober.

An invitation to the service read: “The format of the evening will be in the style of an open 12-step meeting. Adam’s friends both from his life in recovery, as well as those from other areas of his life are welcome.”

“We ask only that everyone adhere to the tradition of anonymity and let what they hear there, and who they see there, stay there.”

Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan and John Mayer among mourners at a memorial service for DJ AM

Bang — Fri, 04 Sep 2009 12:00:05 +0000

Nicole Richie, Lindsay Lohan and John Mayer – along with Lindsay’s girlfriend Samantha Ronson, socialite Nicky Hilton and actor Eric Dane – gathered with family and fans at the Hollywood Palladium to pay their respects to the musician, real name Adam Goldstein, following his death last week.

An onlooker said: “The crowd was very hip and eclectic, there were people dressed in smart black suits and people dressed in jeans and T-shirts. It was packed though, you could tell how well loved he was. It was a very sombre and sad crowd.”

During the two-and-a-half hour long service – which was structured like an Alcoholics Anonymous 12 steps meeting – his girlfriend, model Haley Wood addressed the 3,500 mourners.

She said: “He was my soulmate and now he is my soul. He is my amazing grace.”

The memorial venue opened up three entrances, one for family and VIPs and one for friends and one for fans.

The service followed a private burial for 36-year-old Adam – who was found dead in his New York apartment last Friday (August 28) – at Hillside Memorial Park and Mortuary on Wednesday (September 2).

Although the cause of DJ AM’s death remains unclear, it has been reported he was found with undigested painkillers in his stomach and mouth.

A crack pipe and some of the illegal drug were also discovered near his body, with his representative admitting he was due to go to rehab to battle his addiction.

The musician died with a $1 million estate and no will.

DJ AM died with eight undigested OxyContin pills in his stomach and another in his mouth

Bang — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 12:06:13 +0000

DJ AM – whose body was discovered in his New York apartment on Friday (28.08.09) – had apparently taken the painkillers in quick succession, sparking speculation he committed suicide.

A law enforcement source told People magazine: “He wanted to die. He was going unconscious when he took the last one. He didn’t even swallow it.”

A crack pipe and some of the illegal drug – which DJ AM had previously battled an addiction to – was also found near his body.

The musician, real name Adam Goldstein, was prescribed Xanax and benzodiazepines to help him deal with post-traumatic stress after surviving a plane crash last year.

It has been claimed he grew dependent on the drugs, causing him to relapse.

DJ AM has admitted to friends he was struggling with substance abuse, and agreed to get treatment shortly before he died.

His representative confirmed: “As soon as his friends, representation and his AA sponsor learned that he relapsed, which was only a couple days before he passed away, they sprung into action to try and get him to agree to go to rehab.”

When police arrived at the apartment they found a mirror “propped against the outside”, which they moved.

Another mirror was resting on the bedroom door, which shattered as officers gained entry.

The source said: “They pushed it open and it broke. I think Goldstein smoked a lot of crack, barricaded the doors and killed himself.”

A Valentine’s Day card from the DJ’s girlfriend, model Hayley Wood, was also found in the room, along with several photos of the couple.

He and Hayley are believed to have recently split leading to him becoming depressed, but she has refuted the claims.

She said: “Any indication that this horribly tragic accident happened because of a rumoured break-up is not only untrue but disgusting. We were very much together at the time of his passing, and I love him very much.”

A private memorial for the DJ is to be held tomorrow (03.09.09) at Los Angeles’ Hollywood Palladium.

In reference to the musician’s battle with substance abuse, the invite to the ceremony states: “The format of the evening will be in the style of an open 12-step meeting. Adam’s friends both from his life in recovery, as well as those from other areas of his life are welcome. We ask only that everyone adhere to the tradition of anonymity and let what they hear there, and who they see there, stay there.”

Results of DJ AM’s Autopsy Inconclusive

Duncan Riley — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 04:03:50 +0000

The cause of DJ AM’s death remains undetermined after an autopsy performed by the New York Medical Examiner’s Office on Saturday (August 29) was inconclusive.

“The cause of death was inconclusive because we need to do additional testing,” a spokesman told People Magazine. “The testing would include toxicology and tissue testing. We don’t expect any results for several weeks.”

“It’s under investigation and when the investigation is complete we will have a cause of death and a manner of death.”

Drugs still seem the likely culprit, with new reports stating that a crack pipe and prescription pills were found near DJ AM’s body when it was discovered.

DJ AM Found Dead In A New York Apartment

Kim LaCapria — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 01:30:15 +0000

DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) was found dead in a Manhattan apartment on late Friday afternoon of a suspected drug overdose.

The death follows Goldstein’s survival of a plane crash in September 2008 after the Learjet he was in caught fire, killing four people. Blink 182 drummer, Travis Barker, also survived the same crash.

DJ AM has previously battled a drug addiction and had signed on to star in an “intervention themed reality” show for MTV titled “Gone Too Far.”

Later reports suggest that Goldstein may have been depressed after breaking up with his girlfriend.

DJ AM Files Fatal Crash Lawsuit

Meieli Sawyer — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 18:37:49 +0000

DJ AM filed a lawsuit on Tuesday which blames both the equipment and pilots for the plane crash in September that claimed four lives, joining Travis Barker, late bodyguard Charles Still’s mother, and Chris Baker’s widow in a series of separate lawsuits. Barker and Still’s mother have not named the pilots’ estates as defendants; Baker’s widow has listed similar defendants to DJ AM’s lawsuit, which names the two pilots, Global Exec Aviation, Clay Lacy Aviation, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., Inter Travel & Services Inc., and Learjet.

DJ AM’s legal papers claim that “The pilots were either poorly trained and/or failed to follow their training,” also stating that the plane was “defective, not fit for its intended purposes and unreasonably dangerous.” The lawsuit states that the private Lear jet reached takeoff speed when the pilots realized that one or more tires were damaged, and the takeoff was abandoned, which in turn caused the plane to overrun the runway and come to a fiery stop against an embankment.

AM, whose legal name is Adam Goldstein, claims that “pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement and loss of earnings,” reports People.

Update: Full Recovery Expected for Travis Barker and DJ AM

Meieli Sawyer — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 18:27:03 +0000

A joint release was issued today by Travis Barker and DJ AM to update the public on their conditions post-plane crash. The two were admitted to the Joseph M. Still Burn Center in Augusta, Georgia for second and third-degree burns yesterday, and the release described their injuries and expressed sympathy for the families of the four who died in the crash.

“Barker suffered from burns on his torso and lower body and Goldstein suffered from burns on his arm, and a portion of his scalp. Since both Barker and Goldstein are in overall good health and didn’t suffer from any other crash-related complications, a full recovery is expected.”

After rumors had surfaced that Travis had died yesterday via TMZ comments (!), we’re glad to hear that they’re on the mend.

Travis Barker and DJ AM in Critical Condition After Plane Crash

Meieli Sawyer — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 16:56:23 +0000

DJ AM (Adam Goldstein) and Travis Barker of former Blink-182 fame have been critically injured in a plane crash in South Carolina. After performing at a free concert held in Columbia, they caught a Learjet 60 to head back to Van Nuys, which took off at 11:53 p.m. on Friday night.

Sparks were seen as the airplane traveled down the runway, and it crashed through the antenna arena at the end of the runway and through the fence that surrounded it. The plane burst into flames as it hurdled across a roadway, and DJ AM and Travis are said to have saved their lives by jumping out of the plane almost immediately after it crashed. They were seen tearing off their burning clothes after leaving the plane.

DJ AM and Travis Barker are currently being treated for severe burns. DJ AM suffered extensive burns on his face, while Travis Barker has been burned badly from the waist down.

The four named dead by the coroner were pilot Sarah Lemmon, 31; co-pilot James Bland, 52; Chris Baker, 29; and Charles Still, 25.