Adam Goldstein, aka DJ AM 1973-2009

This post was originally published on my handmade jewelry blog, Design by Cassandra, on August 30, 2009.

"New york, new york. Big city of dreams, but everything in new york aint always what it seems." [sic]

- Adam's last post on his Twitter page, three days before his body was found in his New York City apartment on August 28, 2009

I'm a Twitterbug, yes.  I'm chatting with a good friend I've made on the site from Boston, as she tells me she's packing for her trip to New York City tomorrow.  As I yearn to return to 'The Big Apple' and tell her my jealousy, joke about sneaking me into a bus carry-on, and Photoshop me into her pictures, the next tweet I read from Perez Hilton stopped the banter quite suddenly as I read that Adam Goldstein, better known to his fans as DJ AM, has died.

My God, is this truly a summer of death?

Not a week ago was he alive and vivacious, hosting the 'Dharma Initiative Presents: Banana Splits Sundae' party in appreciation for Lost fans and to usher in its sixth and final season.  Partygoers that night didn't realize that show would be his curtain call.


Adam was born in Philidelphia, Pennsylvannia to a Jewish family, starting his career with the band Crazy Town, most noted for their hit song "Butterfly".  Since then, under the handle DJ AM, he has worked turntables for such musicians as Papa Roach, Will Smith, Madonna, Shifty and Jay Z, performing private parties for many A-list actors and celebrities.

Travis Barker (left) and DJ AM

September 19, 2008 was a day that would change Adam's life.  Flying from Colombia, South Carolina in a Learjet, Adam with good friend and fellow collaborator Travis Barker (Blink 182), survived a horrific plane crash that left the men in critical condition.  Adam was left with severe burns to the hands and head.

He had said that the plane crash gave him a second chance on life, wanting to make the most of what he could without haste.  He had long preached sobriety to his fans, and was to debut in his own show on MTV called "Gone Too Far," staging interventions with other youths about their own problems with addiction, Adam being a former addict himself.

"I am a recovering drug addict," he said in an interview.  "When I see it and I'm in their room and the paraphernalia and the whole lifestyle and everything, I still, 11 years later, have that little thing in my head that starts thinking, 'Oh, where's that? I wonder what that is?'" [sic]

 

There are a lot of us who are confused by his death, especially when he was on such an important mission.  We certainly can't say we knew what he was thinking at that moment, but we can learn not to take our chances, if the conclusions lead to where they may be going.  We may remember how he died, but he will live forever in the music he made.