On Tuesday (March 8), former ‘Alice In Chains’ bass player Mike Starr, 44, was found dead in his Salt Lake City home. Starr, who graduated from Burien’s Highline High School in 1984, was the band’s original bassist from the group’s formation in 1987 to 1993.

He had been battling a drug problem for a number of years, and in January 2010 was featured as a patient on the third season of “Celebrity Rehab,” a VH1 reality show, where he appeared to be unable to overcome his addiction.

According to news reports, Starr was arrested in Salt Lake City three weeks ago on an outstanding warrant related to an earlier drug charge. At the time he was arrested, he was also found carrying unauthorized prescription medications.

He played bass for the albums Facelift, Sap, and Dirt, and left Alice In Chains in the middle of the Dirt tour. He also sang backing vocals on the song “Confusion” on the Alice in Chains album Facelift.

According to numerous sources, Starr’s departure from the band was amicable, and was allegedly due to the rigors of constant touring and the desire to spend more time with his family.

TMZ, which broke the news of Starr’s death Tuesday, quoted his father as saying: “It’s a terrible shock and tragedy.”

The band, which recently re-formed, posted this announcement on their website:

Members of Alice in Chains are mourning the loss of their friend and ask that the media respect their privacy – and the privacy of the Starr family – during this difficult time. Their thoughts & prayers are with the Starr family.

Everyone here at The B-Town Blog sends our deepest sympathies out to Mike’s friends, family and fellow fans.

VIDEOS:

Here’s a pretty cool home video of the band jamming backstage before a concert:

Click here to view the embedded video.

And here’s some of our personal AIC faves – check out the big rock star hair-flingin’ on “Man in the Box”!:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

by Bart Bryan and Mark Neuman

Remember these lyrics from the 1960’s?

“The eastern world, it is exploding
Violence flarin’, bullets loadin’
You’re old enough to kill, but not for votin’
You don’t believe in war, but what’s that gun you’re totin’
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin’”

They’re from the protest tune “Eve of Destruction,” which reached #1 on the Billboard Top 40 in 1965.

It was sung by Barry McGuire, and you can see him this Saturday (July 18th) at 2pm at the Highline Performing Arts Center in Burien. He’ll appear the night before at the Auburn High Performing Arts Center.

To refresh your memory, or if you’re younger and dig the 60s, here’s a video of Barry singing the hit:

Click here to view the embedded video.

We chatted with Barry for a few minutes the other day, in anticipation of his trip to the Northwest.

“I’ve teamed up with John York, who used to be with the Byrds,” Barry said. “We’re calling the tour ‘Trippin’ the Sixties.’”

He recalled his early influences.

“I loved the Everly Brothers. I loved Richie Valens. I loved Elvis with his rock ‘n’ roll, but when he started doing the romantic songs I wanted to stick my finger down my throat.

“When I started to hear the work of Harry Belafonte and the Kingston Trio, that’s when I bought my first guitar.”

As a young man, Barry worked as a fisherman and a pipefitter before starting a musical career.

“One day I was in a recording studio. We rehearsed Eve of Destruction twice and recorded it once. There was some other band out in the hall waiting to use the studio, so that was all the time we got.”

Within a week the tune, written by P.F. Stone, was receiving heavy radio airplay in Los Angeles.

“Absolutely, tragically Eve of Destruction is more valid now than forty or forty-five years ago,” Barry said.

We asked him to tell us about, among others, his old friend Michael Nesmith.

“Mike’s doing great. He used to be my upstairs neighbor, before he was in the Monkees. One day he came down and pitched me on a song he’d written and asked me if I wanted to be a part of it. I said ‘No.’ It didn’t line up with my spiritual take on reality.”

Nesmith gave the song to the Stone Poneys, who along with their young singer, Linda Ronstadt, recorded and released it. Called “Different Drum,” the song reached #13 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1967.

“Tell your B-Town Blog readers to bring a carload of friends to the show. It’s going to be a footstompin,’ hand clappin’ sing-along romp through the sixties.”

“Come on board the trippin’ train!” Barry says.

Barry McGuire and John York: Trippin’ The 60s:

• Friday July 17th at 7pm: Auburn High Performing Arts Center, Auburn
• Saturday July 18th at 2pm: Highline Performing Arts Center (next to Highline High), Burien

For ticket information, call Brown Paper Tickets at 1-800-838-3006.

And get this – Volunteers for this event will actually get something other than Satisfaction (I Can’t Get No…):

• Free Race Crew T-Shirt.
• Free ticket to the post-race headliner concert.
• Free race goodie bag.
• Satisfaction of helping others.
• You’ll have a great time!

WHAT: Inaugural Rock ‘n’ Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon

WHEN: Wednesday June 24th, Thursday 25th, Friday 26th, Saturday 27, 2009

WHERE: 26.2-Mile and 13.1-Mile Race Courses from Tukwila to Seattle (Volunteer stations to be assigned)

CONTACT: Volunteer Coordinator: Adriane Ferguson; Email: adriane@seafair.com Phone: (206) 728-0123 ext.109

Seafair
2200 Sixth Ave. Suite 400
Seattle, WA. 98121

INFO: New this year, the Rock n’Roll Seattle Marathon & ½ Marathon will be taking place on the streets throughout Seattle! We need your help in creating an inspiring and upbeat environment for the runners and walkers participating in this event.

Not a runner or walker? You can still be a part of the event! With over 15,000 marathon and half marathon participants, volunteers are needed to assist with every aspect of the event, including setup, pre-registration, the Health & Fitness Expo, the Start Line, Finish Line and water stations along the course. Team up with your friends or family and make it an experience you won’t forget!

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Pre-race Expo and Registration: Qwest Event Center-Wednesday June 24 (set up), Thursday June 25 & Friday, June 26.
  • Issue registered runners their race numbers
  • Distribute race participant T-shirts
  • Distribute race Goodie Bags
  • Stock and sell souvenirs
• Start Line – Foster Golf Links- Tukwila- Saturday, June 27th:
  • Start Corrals, Gear Check, Bus Unloading, Refreshments, Medical Tent
• Finish Line – Qwest Field- Seattle-Saturday, June 27th:
  • Checked Gear Retrieval, Chip Removal, Refreshment Zone, Awards, Pedestrian Traffic Control, Medical Tent
• Water Station – Groups of 30 or more-Saturday, June 27th:
  • Volunteers are located on various parts of the course.
• Medical Station-Saturday, June 27th:
  • Various Locations along the course. Volunteers are needed to staff medical tents and assist runners with minor injuries.

To sign-up, or to register to run, please click here: www.rnrseattle.com