14 Facts about DJ AM
Deejay Born
Adam Goldstein was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 30, 1973.
Troubled Childhood
Adam was raised by his mother Andrea and his father, “who seemed to hate me,” he told Glamour in January 2008. “The verbal abuse he subjected me to was unbelievably cruel. I would find out later that there was a good reason my father was so tortured — he was secretly gay and addicted to drugs.”
Addiction
DJ AM first experimented with drugs at 12, and his first visit to rehab came when he was 17. He would struggle to kick his addiction until age 24, when he became sober with the help of friends and family.
At the Turntable
Adam — known as DJ AM — began deejaying at age 20.
Spinning for Stars
He has played private events for celebrities like Jim Carrey, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Ben Stiller, Leonardo DiCaprio, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore and Kate Hudson.
Goldstein was a member of the rock band Crazy Town, known for their hit “Butterfly.”
Hollywood Sweethearts
Adam has dated Hollywood starlets Nicole Richie and Mandy Moore.
Low Point
In 1997, when Goldstein was 24, he attempted suicide while high on cocaine. He put a gun in his mouth and pulled the trigger, but the handgun jammed.
Slimmed Down
Goldstein underwent gastric bypass surgery when he was 30 and dropped 115 lbs.
TRV-AM
Adam collaborated with Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker under the title TRVSDJ-AM. The two became close after collaborating and surviving a plane crash together.
Learjet Tragedy
On September 19, 2008, Adam and colleague Travis Barker were seriously injured when a Learjet he was traveling in crashed on takeoff in West Columbia, South Carolina. The musicians were the only survivors of the crash, which killed four.
Burned
Goldstein suffered from second and third-degree burns as a result of the Learjet crash.
Recent Split
Goldstein most recently dated model Hayley Wood, but the two reportedly broke up a few weeks before his death.
Kicking Drugs
Shortly before his death, Adam wrapped the MTV reality show “Gone Too Far,” on which he helped other addicts find a way to end their dependence.
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