Original Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr died today

[neal]

Former Alice in Chains bassist Mike Starr died in Utah ... TMZ has learned.

Starr appeared on the third season of "Celebrity Rehab" back in 2009 -- and was arrested last month for felony possession of a controlled substance. Salt Lake City cops say he had 6 Xanax pills and 6 Opana (painkiller) pills when he was busted.

Starr was 44 years old.

Mike's dad tells TMZ, "It's a terrible shock and tragedy."

UPDATE: Police tell us Starr's body was found in a Salt Lake City home today. Cops say they were called to the house at 1:42PM.

 

[Shpongled]

RIP dude. I'll take any excuse to listen to some AiC. Maybe I'll disco it up tonight "in his honor".

 

[Dead Winter]

It's fitting, I guess. He was the one who shot Layne up with the dose that killed him...he wanted to call the paramedics but Layne begged him not to. It's just another reason why hard drugs are fucking stupid. R.I.P.

 

[Enemy242]

Yeah once you start taking things like Opana and Xanax together to get fucked up you're in pretty deep, quite a shame. R.I.P.

 

[Morbides]

RIP...dumbass

 

[Det Som Engang Var]

With a father that shot up, and the guilt of Layne on his conscious, I'm surprised he lasted this long.

Shame shame, this is why I wanted him on the new line up instead of Inez.

 

[freewill]

eh....what else would have happened?

I feel bad for Cantrell though...

 

[Dreadful]

I have a feeling that Phil Anselmo is going to be the new Ozzy when it comes to outliving everyone. I don't wish Phil to die, but he's probably gonna out live like every metal drug addict.

 

[freewill]

My vote foes to Nikki Sixx

 

[Will Bozarth]

RIP...dumbass

+1

 

[theoden236]

http://www.tmz.com/videos?autoplay=true&mediaKey=97c04d06-2b1e-471b-bfec-bdfb17107d9f

this just shows how messed up he really was until his death. Still though, RIP man.