The news has been slammed with former member of Crazy Town’s DJ AM and his death.  Many people have spoken out and said his or her kind words of remembrance, many of those who had nothing to do with the individual.

DJ AM, who’s real name is Adam Goldstein, died of possible drug use, joining Michael Jackson as another celebrity who’s use and abuse of a drug has lead to their demise.  But why all the sudden attention for the B-list celebrity?  I suppose it isn’t that unheard of for people to idolize and still look up to rock stars and other musicians as role models, even with the rampant use of drugs for recreational purposes.


I can understand other DJ’s showing respect for one of their own, because it serves as a reminder to them as to what the future may hold if they let things go to far out of control and let themselves be too completely submerged in the night club culture and the drug subculture it has spawned.  It is a reminder of mortality and one that DJ’s should be aware of.

I understand Travis Barker and other artists Goldstein has worked with giving public words of sorrow at his loss because outside of simply being a work associate, Goldstein was also friends with many of those he worked with as well as the few he dated like Nicole Richie and Mandy Moore (both of which he was engaged to for a time.)

But the public?  DJ AM’s music was not anything deep and memorable.  He made great club music that livened up the party and was a great performer for private get-togethers of the rich and famous.  Unlike many of the DJ’s that come from the European club scene, DJ AM doesn’t have a huge list of his own material, since he provided tracks for those he worked with.  He doesn’t have a song like Adagio for Strings, Lethal Industry or Just Be like DJ Tiesto.  He also didn’t ride a solo release like Timberland, who is similar in practice, providing beats and riffs for singers and bands.

Yet several ‘fans’ have popped up stating their sorrow at his loss.  I can bet that many of the people claiming to feel this sorrow had not even listened to the majority of his music, or even gone to a club with him performing.  Honoring his death, if you can call it that, is the flavor of the week, and since all the “cool” people have made comment about it Friday (the day Goldstein was found dead) it only makes sense for them to repeat and relay the message to stay in the loop.

The man did nothing so special as to deserve the adoration he has received, even from the club culture.  He made good dance mixes and if it weren’t for his relationships with Mandy Moore and Nicole Richie, he wouldn’t have had the same media exposure.  Even with cheating death in a plane crash with Travis Barker and his involvement in the ultimate failure of the band Crazy Town, his relationships with the higher celebrity circle is ultimately what put him the tabloids for a time and got his name out there.

There are many local and underground DJ’s who put out mixes as good, if not better, yet without having a high profile meal ticket carry them to higher fame, their growth has to be earned through hard work, and through albums, not mix tapes.