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Goodnight, DJ AM

Just under a year ago on September 18th, a private plane crashed while taking off from a South Carolina airport. Both pilots as well as two other passengers were killed in the crash. Adam Goldstein and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker were the only two others aboard the plane, and luckily, both survived despite serious injuries.

Luck can only last so long. On August 28th, 2009, Goldstein, or DJ AM was found dead in his apartment. Goldstein was one of the most popular club DJs in the world and was slated for a number of gigs across the United States this September. In addition to his own shows, Goldstein appeared on numerous pop and rock albums, including those of Madonna, Will Smith and Papa Roach. He had also collaborated with Barker on a unique project, TRVSDJAM, a live set mixing drum beats with Goldstein’s own talent for scratching the vinyl.

In the music community, Goldstein will undoubtedly be missed. The DJ was on top of the world at the time of his death, although he had been on the scene for less than ten years. Across the world, he was in high-demand at clubs, private parties and corporate events. He mixed various genres of music to please the demographic on the dance floor.

Goldstein didn’t confine himself to simply the music industry. He had begun shooting his own MTV reality show, called Gone Too Far, which featured the DJ helping young people struggling with alcoholism and addiction. The show had been scheduled to premier on October 5th, but following Goldstein’s death MTV has not yet decided whether or not they will air the eight episodes that had already been shot.
As far as reality TV goes, Gone Too Far would probably have been a decent show. Goldstein struggled to handle his addiction and remain sober for many years, and confessed this to the press in July. “I struggled for years as a drug addict and was fortunate to get help when I asked for it. I have managed to live a clean and sober life, something that takes work and something that I pride myself on.”

A man who was more than likely a role model to both aspiring disc jockeys and struggling addicts seemingly turned the tables on himself. Since autopsy results have proved inconclusive so far and drug paraphernalia was found at his apartment at the time of his death, most believe that Goldstein fatally overdosed. If a drug overdose was in fact the cause of his death, it will be bitterly ironic.

Goldstein’s death stands as a tragic reminder about the potentially fatal dangers of drugs and alcohol. High-flying celebrity DJs are at just as much risk to fall victim to substance abuse as high school students. For those who he mentored on Gone Too Far, the DJ’s passing is a rude awakening about the life they may have led, and the way it could have ended.