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Adam Goldstein was found dead at his New York City apartment at around 5:20 p.m. on Friday, August 28, 2009, after friends, unable to reach Goldstein for a few days, became concerned and called police. When the police arrived, accompanied by paramedics, they broke into the apartment and found Goldstein's body on his bed. He was 36 years old.

 

Sources have speculated that the cause of death may have been an accidental drug overdose. Drug paraphernalia was found in the apartment, but no signs of foul play. A rep for Goldstein released a statement: "Adam 'DJ AM' Goldstein was found deceased this afternoon in his New York City apartment. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear. Out of respect for his family and loved ones, please respect their privacy at this time."

 

Goldstein had been prescribed medication for pain and post traumatic stress after surviving the Learjet crash with friend and fellow musician Travis Barker in September 2008. "He struggled with pain after the crash," a close friend of Goldstein told E! News Friday. "But it seemed like he was functioning fine and never missed work." Travis Barker tweeted about the loss of his good friend saying, "I'll never forget everything we've been through and everytime I play the drums I'll think of you. You were an amazing friend/DJ/human being." Barker's band, Blink-182, held an onstage vigil for DJ AM on Saturday night, and cancelled their performance the coming Monday.

 

Radio personality and addiction specialist Dr. Drew Pinsky, who was a friend of Goldstein, said on his August 30, 2009 Loveline show that he was extremely shocked and saddened to learn of his relapse and death. Dr. Drew described Goldstein's sobriety as "solid", and was a "great inspiration" for those seeking addiction treatment. He then went on to endorse the argument that Goldstein's PTSD from his recent plane crash played a significant role in his relapse

 

Following the sudden passing of DJ AM on Friday, Travis Barker and band Blink-182 took the stage as planned on Saturday night (August 29) for a concert in Hartford, Connecticut, and paid tribute to their fallen friend.

 

“This night is really hard for us onstage,” bassist Mark Hoppus said to the crowd, according to YouTube footage of the show. “We lost a dear friend yesterday. His name was Adam Goldstein. You probably know him as DJ AM. He was an innovator and a genius and he loved music more than anything else. Above all he was a very dear friend.”

 

He then requested a moment of silence from the crowd and asked for the arena lights to be dimmed as they sought to honor AM. The band then dedicated the song “Down” to Goldstein’s memory. As guitarist Tom DeLonge began to sing the first verse, tears could be seen rolling down the bandmembers’ faces, according to People.com.

 

Drummer Travis Barker — who had performed with AM as TRV$DJAM (they were the house band at the 2008 MTV Video Music Awards), and escaped a fiery plane crash with him last year that killed four people — did not interact with the crowd. According to Rolling Stone, Barker skipped his usual levitating drum solo during the encore. At the end of “Down,” he was said to have rubbed his eyes and held his head in his hands.

 

Shortly before Saturday’s show, Barker tweeted a tribute to AM.

 

“Don’t know how i am gonna play 2night but i am for AM. My brother is gone.i love u and miss u, i’ll never forget all the good times we had. …

 

“I’ll never forget everything we’ve been thru and every time i play the drums i’ll think of you. U were an amazing friend/DJ/human being. …

 

“Rest In Peace my brother, this really f—s me up.”