News outlets and metal sites are reporting that Mike Starr, original bassist for Alice in Chains, has died. He was 44. Starr was found dead in a Salt Lake City, UT, home at 1:42pm this afternoon.

Starr worked with Alice in Chains through to the band’s tour for the album Dirt. He is known for having performed with the band on songs such as “Them Bones,” “Man in the Box.” and “Got Me Wrong.”

Starr recently grabbed attention by ‘checking in’ on television’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. His former colleagues in Alice in Chains were disheartened to see this development, as were many fans. Starr has had a very public battle with drug addiction, and was arrested for possession charges as recently as February 2011. It is uncertain at this point whether his death was drug related.