Adam Goldstein

Adam Michael Goldstein (March 30, 1973 – August 28, 2009), better known as DJ AM, was an American DJ, remixer, record producer and musician. 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
Goldstein was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a Jewish family. As a child, he was verbally abused by his father, whom 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. Goldstein attended the elite Quaker school Friends' Central. Goldstein began taking drugs, so his mother placed him in a tough love treatment center.Citation needed|date=October 2012

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 1983 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. Shortly thereafter, he became sober, began attending AA meetings and dedicated himself to working as a DJ. "By then, I was booking jobs at every major club and had started to gain a following," he told Glamour magazine. He lost more than 60 pounds with Laparoscopic surgery, and began Deejaying for celebrity parties and night clubs.

Goldstein began dating actress Nicole Richie in 2003 and announced their engagement in February 2005. However, the couple broke up in late 2006. "The one thing that stands out about Adam is that I can be myself," Richie said after the breakup. He was good friends with Jesse F. Keeler, Steve Aoki, Cory Kennedy, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Skillz, Samantha Ronson, John Mayer, Scott Caan, and Travis Barker.[