Awful breaking news – original Alice In Chains bass player Mike Starr has died in Utah, USA.

Police tell TMZ that Starr’s body was found in a Salt Lake City home. Starr has had a long and much-publicised battle with substance abuse and was last month arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance.

As an Alice In Chains fan I’m devastated by this. Mike’s bass playing on Facelift and Dirt was great, and his intro to Rain When I Die was one of the coolest moments of Dirt. Those albums, especially Dirt, were huge for me back in the day, and still are today.

Riki Rachtman has posted his feelings here, calling it like he sees it. It’s a powerful read.