DJ AM

DJ AM
DJ AM in December 2008
Background information
Birth name	Adam Michael Goldstein
Also known as	DJ AM
Born	(1973-03-30)March 30, 1973 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	August 28, 2009(2009-08-28) (aged 36) New York City, U.S.
Occupation(s)	DJ, remixer, drummer
Instruments	Turntables, drums
Associated acts	TRV$DJAM, Crazy Town, Travis Barker, Samantha Ronson
Website	djam.com (defunct)

DJ AM (born Adam Michael Goldstein; March 30, 1973 – August 28, 2009) was an American DJ, remixer and musician. Goldstein was a member of the rock band Crazy Town from 1999 until 2001, and was a successful solo DJ, performing for three years at Caesars Palace as well as at private events for various celebrities. He was also one half of TRV$DJAM along with Travis Barker. Barker and Goldstein were the only two survivors of the 2008 South Carolina Learjet 60 crash, which killed the four other people on board.

Goldstein appeared as himself in several television series, contributed mixes and appeared as a playable character in the video game DJ Hero, and filmed a cameo appearance for Iron Man 2. Goldstein, who had a drug addiction in his early 20s, hosted the 2009 MTV drug intervention series Gone Too Far. He appeared to be struggling with his former addiction during filming. On August 28, 2009 he was found dead in his New York City apartment from a drug overdose. Iron Man 2, which was released in 2010, was dedicated to his memory.

Goldstein was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Jewish parents. Goldstein described his father as "unbelievably cruel", stating that he was verbally abused by him. His father abused drugs and alcohol and was incarcerated for committing bank fraud. As an adult, however, Goldstein found out that the man he thought was his father was not his biological one. Goldstein attended the Quaker school Friends' Central. At the age of 14 he moved with his mother to Los Angeles after his parents divorced. Here he fell in with a crowd of heavy drug users. He was sent to a drug rehabilitation center, but was indicted and dismissed for his treatment of younger patients shortly before his 18th birthday. His father died the following year due to complications from HIV/AIDS.

When Goldstein was 20 years old he started deejaying, which he had been obsessed with since seeing Herbie Hancock perform "Rockit" at the 26th Annual Grammy Awards. During his early 20s, Goldstein also battled a drug addiction, specifically to crack cocaine. In 1997 he attempted suicide but was unsuccessful when the gun he placed in his mouth jammed when he pulled the trigger. Shortly thereafter, he became sober, began attending AA meetings and dedicated himself to working as a DJ.