DJ AM Found Dead

08/31/09 1:27pm

by Kate Harper (CHARTattack)

DJ AM, who along with Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker was one of the only survivors of a plane crash that killed four other people in Columbia, S.C. last September, died of a suspected drug overdose on Friday night.

The DJ born Adam Goldstein, 36, was found dead in his New York City apartment along with prescription drug bottles and a crack pipe, according to the New York Post.

A friend, who hadn't heard from DJ AM in days, went by his apartment to check on him and reportedly found him face down in his bed, the newspaper reports.

DJ AM was said to have been "devastated" by a breakup with model Hayley Wood, which occurred several days before his death. A source told People magazine DJ AM had been "keeping to himself, and he was blowing people off" due to the breakup.

Although DJ AM's cause of death has not yet been determined, TMZ reports authorities believe he died due to an accidental drug overdose and did not commit suicide.

The New York medical examiner's offices said autopsy results were inconclusive on Saturday and they needed additional time to complete toxicology and tissue tests to determine the DJ's cause of death. That could take several weeks to complete.

TMZ reports DJ AM, who was a recovering crack cocaine addict and had unsuccessfully attempted suicide in his twenties, had become dependent on Xanax and anti-anxiety drugs he had been taking after last year's plane crash. The website reports he'd been taking Xanax to deal with a fear of flying he'd acquired because of the crash, but it triggered a relapse.

Ironically, DJ AM had just taped an interview with MTV News about his drug addiction, and was to launch a substance-abuse intervention show called Gone Too Far, which he said he wanted to use it to help other addicts.

"I got so lost in my disease. I was gone," DJ AM told MTV News in an interview just before his death. "I had forgotten, [and] I would have these little moments where I would say, 'Wow, I had goals. There was things that I wanted to do.'"

Barker, who was good friends with DJ AM and collaborated with the DJ as part of TRV$DJAM, tweeted about DJ AM's death on Friday .

"Don't know how i am gonna play 2night but i am for AM. My brother is gone.i love u and miss u, i'll never forget all the good times we had," Barker wrote.

"I'll never forget everything we've been thru and every time i play the drums i'll think of you. U were an amazing friend/DJ/human being," he continued.

"Rest In Peace my brother, this really fucks me up," he finished.

DJ AM and Barker were left with second- and third-degree burns in last year's plane crash.

Blink-182 paid tribute to AM on stage with a moment of silence at the band's show in Hartford, Conn. this weekend.

"This is really hard for us on stage," bassist Mark Hoppus told the crowd.

"We are doing our very best to get through this show, but right now it's very hard."