A recent breakup with his girlfriend only added to DJ AM's rough year following the tragic plane crash he survived in September. Sources tell TMZ he was "completely devastated" by the split with Hayley Wood, and a PEOPLE source admitted the DJ "hadn't been in a good place lately."
According to reports, Wood ended the relationship within the last week and that since then, "he was keeping to himself, and he was blowing people off."
TMZ sources say he was having a very hard time dealing with post-traumatic stress from the plane crash he barely survived in September of last year. Four people died.
Recalling the crash to PEOPLE, Goldstein said that he was asleep in the plane when "the next thing I remember is us crashing into something ... I woke up to Travis screaming and the plane engulfed in flames. I remember thinking it was like 'Miami Vice,' where a car is on fire and you run before the gas tank explodes - we gotta get out of here!"
Goldstein was badly burned in the crash. "My eyebrows and layers of skin were burned off my face ... My forehead was gouged and my arm had skin hanging off. I was in shock and didn't feel anything," he said.
DJ AM, real name Adam Goldstein, was found dead in his apartment on Friday in New York City. He was 36. According to reports, drug paraphernalia including a glass crack pipe was found at the scene and Goldstein hadn't been seen or heard from in several days.
He had struggled with drug abuse in the past, but had been sober for years.
Adam Goldstein, known to most as DJ AM, died on August 28. New York City police found his body in bed after he had been missing for days, TMZ is reporting.
Adam Goldstein, known to most as DJ AM, died on August 28. New York City police found his body in bed after he had been missing for days, TMZ is reporting.
Jamie McCarthy, Getty Images
Goldstein earned a reputation as one of the country's most talented DJs, blending every genre of music into his routines. He was a frequent club headliner.
John Parra, WireImage
Goldstein paired up with rock drummer Travis Barker to form TRVS-DJAM, where the two played off of each other's improvisations. In September 2008, their plane crashed after a South Carolina show, nearly killing them both.
Tiffany Rose, Getty Images
In the crash that killed four other people, Goldstein and AM narrowly escaped, but suffered bad burns across their bodies. "My eyebrows and layers of skin were burned off my face ... My forehead was gouged and my arm had skin hanging off. I was in shock and didn't feel anything," Goldstein told PEOPLE.
Brett Flashnick, AP
A month later, DJ AM triumphantly returned to the stage, playing the role of DJ for rap superstar Jay-Z.
Frank Micelotta, Getty Images
Goldstein was also an avid sneaker collector, which eventually earned him a cameo on HBO's 'Entourage.'
Michael Loccisano, Film Magic
Goldstein was engaged to Nicole Richie, but they called off their impending nuptials in 2005.
Jeff Vespa Archive / WireImage
Following his relationship with Richie, Goldstein also dated Hollywood starlet Mandy Moore.
Why is there virtually no press on this? Some of the stories you read are hysterically ridiculous tht they make the "cut," but when someone dies after the kind of year this poor guy had been through and no mention unless you just fall upon it? I just accidentally found the article. Very sad.
Actually, he was just found yesterday. The news is all over AOL, and in fact, if you read the OTHER article on AOL, you'll learn that he was a crack (and other drugs) addict, supposedly 9 1/2 years "sober", and that he also previously tried to commit suicide with a gun (it failed to go off). Seems to me, he was one of those with one foot on a banana peel, and the other in the grave. His desire to live did not outweigh his uncaring about dying. His life was his choice, and his death, in this case, was his choice too. Sad...
It has been on MTV & VH1, they have been reporting on it all day! Maybe it's just too soon or the police do not want a lot of information let out too soon, since they are still not positive what he passed away from. I'm sure more details of what happened will be on the news in time when they know more and can safely release details. God be with you DJ AM, you will def. be missed. May God Bless your family & friends. It's hard enough to lose someone very close to us, but esp. someone so young & so talented. He had overcome so much in his life up til now, a struggle with drug addiction that he beat and was clean for almost 10 years, then surviving a plane crash that was a miracle in itself, and surely took an enormous amount of strength and courage to overcome both. I'm still in shock, because he was given a second chance at life & for some reason, possibly did not want to go on?(I'm sure we will find out in the weeks to come) Just goes to show, we never know what people are dealing with in their own lives and minds after such a tramatic event. I do know how PTSD can effect you, and most people, including myself try to hide it or pretend it's not there! I just wish he would have reached out for help before something like this happened, so very sad! R.I.P DJ AM, you will not be forgotten!
Just like in Final Destination it doesn't pay to try to cheat Death. He escaped the airplane crash and Death has been looking for him all this time. He should have died in the plane crash, but instead he was having the good life and partying like crazy night after night with all those horny DJ groupies.
He was looking around his apartment for some munchies and all of a sudden a long forgotten stash of crack and his old trusty pipe fell into his hands. He said, what the hell, I'll just take a couple of hits for old time's sake. But Death made sure it was top grade crack and that was it. Death claimed one of the world's most acclaimed DJs. Maybe his character will be in Final Destination 5.
Lori- you're spot on right. New York Time's didn't even list his obit. Seems only AOL and the I-net media sources are hot on this one. Sad, really, considering the tragedy this guy tried to perservere thru. Just hope he's in a better place-if being dead achieves that goal. RIP, Adam. Its a cold cold world, yes.
OMG!! another dumbass who has made it big in the biz..and "ohhhh.. my girlfriend broke up with me" so i think im going to get cracked out and kill myself!! i swear!! people.. he should of felt lucky he was who he was! there are many people in the world who are just as good if not better than he is or anyone else..but dont get the chance to make it big... you know..their all a bunch of whiners!! ohhh pooor me!! grow the f..k up!!!! I FEEL NO PITY FOR THIS F..K!!! HE GOTS WHAT HE DESERVED!!!!!!!
If you really were as smart as you think you are, you would realize that he was in a plane crash less than a year ago with Travis Barker. They were the only ones that survived. He has admitted that he was suffering from Survivor's Guilt, he knew his life was no more important than the one's who died, and he didn't understand why he lived. Then add depression and PSTD to that, and you have a person in trouble. He was hurting, and trying to find a way to numb his pain. Yes, I am speaking from experience. When you are depressed, confused, and in pain, you look for anything to make you numb. Yes he went back to the dark side, and I am not praising him for returning to drugs, but I do have a degree of understanding. I have been depressed, sad, and in pain all at the same time, and I fell into a cycle of pain pills and xanax to just try to numb myself. Once you are in that hole, it is hard to dig out of, and the fight doesn't stop there. Your first reaction to the sadness and pain is always to return to what numbed the pain. Unfortunately, DJ AM returned to what numbed the pain for him, and he paid the ultimate price. RIP DJ AM. Now God has a DJ.
If you dont care then dont post your stupid and heartless thoughts. He does have family who do care & by the way he has been clean for a long time... yea he had a relapse, it happens!! I guess your all perfect?? God you people are just plain SORRY for writing such crap about someone who just died. Remember what comes around goes around! Maybe no one will care or miss you either!
Comments
(36)Add a comment
Saturday 29 August
By Linda Littlefield
He should have turned to the Church of Scientology for much needed help.
Reply
Saturday 29 August
By Lori
Why is there virtually no press on this? Some of the stories you read are hysterically ridiculous tht they make the "cut," but when someone dies after the kind of year this poor guy had been through and no mention unless you just fall upon it? I just accidentally found the article. Very sad.
Reply
Saturday 29 August
By RMT
Actually, he was just found yesterday. The news is all over AOL, and in fact, if you read the OTHER article on AOL, you'll learn that he was a crack (and other drugs) addict, supposedly 9 1/2 years "sober", and that he also previously tried to commit suicide with a gun (it failed to go off). Seems to me, he was one of those with one foot on a banana peel, and the other in the grave. His desire to live did not outweigh his uncaring about dying. His life was his choice, and his death, in this case, was his choice too. Sad...
Saturday 29 August
By Tammybalara3
It has been on MTV & VH1, they have been reporting on it all day! Maybe it's just too soon or the police do not want a lot of information let out too soon, since they are still not positive what he passed away from. I'm sure more details of what happened will be on the news in time when they know more and can safely release details. God be with you DJ AM, you will def. be missed. May God Bless your family & friends. It's hard enough to lose someone very close to us, but esp. someone so young & so talented. He had overcome so much in his life up til now, a struggle with drug addiction that he beat and was clean for almost 10 years, then surviving a plane crash that was a miracle in itself, and surely took an enormous amount of strength and courage to overcome both. I'm still in shock, because he was given a second chance at life & for some reason, possibly did not want to go on?(I'm sure we will find out in the weeks to come) Just goes to show, we never know what people are dealing with in their own lives and minds after such a tramatic event. I do know how PTSD can effect you, and most people, including myself try to hide it or pretend it's not there! I just wish he would have reached out for help before something like this happened, so very sad! R.I.P DJ AM, you will not be forgotten!
Saturday 29 August
By pj
scientology? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaa
Reply
Saturday 29 August
By Appleluvva
Just like in Final Destination it doesn't pay to try to cheat Death. He escaped the airplane crash and Death has been looking for him all this time. He should have died in the plane crash, but instead he was having the good life and partying like crazy night after night with all those horny DJ groupies.
He was looking around his apartment for some munchies and all of a sudden a long forgotten stash of crack and his old trusty pipe fell into his hands. He said, what the hell, I'll just take a couple of hits for old time's sake. But Death made sure it was top grade crack and that was it. Death claimed one of the world's most acclaimed DJs. Maybe his character will be in Final Destination 5.
Reply
Saturday 29 August
By DJ AM Forever
You have issues Appleluvva. Are you sure you haven't cheated death, and it's not after you?
Saturday 29 August
By dan
appleluwa, you're a freak
Reply
Saturday 29 August
By Pierre
The stresses of life can push some people over the edge. My heart goes out to his ex-girlfriend. She must be feeling very guilty.
http://www.jamaica-fact-fest.com
Reply
Saturday 29 August
By Tom
Lori- you're spot on right. New York Time's didn't even list his obit. Seems only AOL and the I-net media sources are hot on this one. Sad, really, considering the tragedy this guy tried to perservere thru. Just hope he's in a better place-if being dead achieves that goal. RIP, Adam. Its a cold cold world, yes.
Reply
Sunday 30 August
By sadgalinsd
Actually, the Washington Post had a whole article today in the paper.
Sunday 30 August
By sadgalinsd
Saturday's Post. (It's the middle of the night so my post said Sunday.)
Saturday 29 August
By Yvette
RIP dj am
Reply
Saturday 29 August
By tim lobato
OMG!! another dumbass who has made it big in the biz..and "ohhhh.. my girlfriend broke up with me" so i think im going to get cracked out and kill myself!! i swear!! people.. he should of felt lucky he was who he was! there are many people in the world who are just as good if not better than he is or anyone else..but dont get the chance to make it big... you know..their all a bunch of whiners!! ohhh pooor me!! grow the f..k up!!!! I FEEL NO PITY FOR THIS F..K!!! HE GOTS WHAT HE DESERVED!!!!!!!
Reply
Saturday 29 August
By jim
who is this crack adddict and why should i care if another one od's himself to death
Reply
Saturday 29 August
By DJ AM Forever
If you really were as smart as you think you are, you would realize that he was in a plane crash less than a year ago with Travis Barker. They were the only ones that survived. He has admitted that he was suffering from Survivor's Guilt, he knew his life was no more important than the one's who died, and he didn't understand why he lived. Then add depression and PSTD to that, and you have a person in trouble. He was hurting, and trying to find a way to numb his pain. Yes, I am speaking from experience. When you are depressed, confused, and in pain, you look for anything to make you numb. Yes he went back to the dark side, and I am not praising him for returning to drugs, but I do have a degree of understanding. I have been depressed, sad, and in pain all at the same time, and I fell into a cycle of pain pills and xanax to just try to numb myself. Once you are in that hole, it is hard to dig out of, and the fight doesn't stop there. Your first reaction to the sadness and pain is always to return to what numbed the pain. Unfortunately, DJ AM returned to what numbed the pain for him, and he paid the ultimate price. RIP DJ AM. Now God has a DJ.
Saturday 29 August
By cc
I was wrong. There was something less interesting than Teddy Kennedy's death.
Reply
Sunday 30 August
By KimmeeRapien
That was the best comment I have read all day! LMAO!
Saturday 29 August
By J
Who the F*ck cares another stupid cracked out cracker bites the dust. Hopefully many more to come.
Reply
Saturday 29 August
By Tammybalara3
If you dont care then dont post your stupid and heartless thoughts. He does have family who do care & by the way he has been clean for a long time... yea he had a relapse, it happens!! I guess your all perfect?? God you people are just plain SORRY for writing such crap about someone who just died. Remember what comes around goes around! Maybe no one will care or miss you either!
Reply