- Source of Wealth: Music
- Birth Place: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
- Full Name: Michael Christopher “Mike” Starr
- Nationality: American
- Date of Birth: April 4, 1966
- Occupation: Musician
- Children: 1 (Preston)
Michael Christopher Starr was an American musician who became famous as the original bassist of the rock band called Alice in Chains. He played with the band since their formation in 1987 until January 1993. He also became a member of Sun Red Sun, Sato, and Gypsy Rose.
Starr formed the heavy metal band called Sato in 1983. They released the song “Leather Warriors” on the compilation album Northwest Metalfest that featured Seattle label Ground Zero Records’ various metal acts. Starr joined the band Gypsy Rose that included his future bandmate Jerry Cantrell on guitar and Tin Branom, the producer of Alice N’ Chains, on lead vocals. Cantrell and Starr eventually left Gypsy Rose and started to work with other bands.
The band was able to gain attention in Seattle playing several different monikers but eventually settled on the name Alice in Chains. The band eventually signed a record deal with Columbia Records and became successful in radio and record sales because of the early 1990s grunge rock movement.
Starr eventually parted ways with Alice in Chains when the band achieved commercial success touring for the album Dirt in 1993. He played bass for the band Sun Red Sun that also featured former Black Sabbath members, Bobby Rondinelli and Ray Gillen. However, the project was cut short because of the death of Gillen in 1993. Since then, Starr stopped playing professional music until 2010 because his drug use spiraled out of control.
Starr was able to record a cover of “Kool Thing” by Sonic Youth with singer Leiana in 2010. It premiered on the radio during the last interview of Starr which was for the show Loveline for Dr. Drew Pinsky that aired on February 16, 2010. During the same year, there were reports that Starr was planning to put together a new band that was able to secure a spot opening for the rock band Days of the New. However, due to Starr’s sudden death because of a prescription drug overdose on March 8, 2011, the project got disbanded.