Adam Goldstein
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.
Occupations	Disc jockey, Remixer, Drummer, Businessman
Instruments	Turntables, Drums
Associated acts	TRV$DJAM, Crazy Town, Steve Aoki, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Travis Barker, Samantha Ronson, DJ Scene, AudioFunk
Website	http://www.djam.com/

Adam Michael Goldstein (March 30, 1973 – August 28, 2009) was an American DJ, remixer, record producer and musician better known as DJ AM. Goldstein was a member of the rock band Crazy Town, co-owner of a management company called Deckstar and worked on albums for Papa Roach and Will Smith, among others. He was a frequent collaborator with Travis Barker of Blink-182 and appeared on several television series.

Early and personal life[link]

Goldstein was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a Jewish family.^[1][2][3] As a child, he was verbally abused by his father, who Goldstein called "unbelievably cruel." His father abused drugs and alcohol and was sent to jail for committing bank fraud and later died due to complications from AIDS.^[4] Goldstein attended the elite Quaker school Friends' Central.^[5] Goldstein began taking drugs, so his mother placed him in a treatment center that specialized in “tough love".

When Goldstein was 20 years old, he started deejaying, which he had been obsessed with since seeing Herbie Hancock do the song "Rockit" at the 1984 Grammy Awards. During his early 20s, Goldstein also battled a drug addiction, specifically to crack cocaine. At one point, he attempted suicide but was unsuccessful when the gun did not go off.^[6] Shortly thereafter, he became sober, began attending AA meetings and dedicated himself to working as a DJ.^[7] "By then, I was booking jobs at every major club and had started to gain a following," he told Glamour magazine.^[8] He lost more than 60 pounds and began Deejaying for celebrity parties and night clubs^[9] After getting clean, DJ AM was sober for more than 11 years and was held up as a positive example for the recovery process.^[10][11]

He began dating actress Nicole Richie in 2003 and announced their engagement in February 2005.^[12] However, the couple broke up in late 2006.^[13] "The one thing that stands out about Adam is that I can be myself," Richie said after the breakup.^[14] After his breakup with Richie, Goldstein dated singer-actress Mandy Moore.^[15] He was in a relationship with fashion model Hayley Wood at the time of his death.^[16] He was good friends with Steve Aoki, Jesse F. Keeler, Cory Kennedy, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Skillz, Samantha Ronson, John Mayer, Scott Caan, and Travis Barker.^[17]