Carmen Electra Shares Memories of 'Very Kind' Friend Shifty Shellshock After His Death at 49 (Exclusive)

• Carmen Electra opens up to PEOPLE about her late friend, Shifty Shellshock of Crazy Town, after his death on June 24
• The actress and model recalls working with the "Butterfly" singer and reflects on his history with substance abuse
• "Everyone that knows him knows that he was actually, no matter what was going on in his life, a very kind person," says Electra
  

Carmen Electra is thinking about her late friend, Shifty Shellshock of Crazy Town.

After the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner revealed that the "Butterfly" singer, whose real name was Seth Binzer, was found dead at age 49 in his L.A. home on June 24, Electra is opening up about their friendship.

"If you really know Seth, he's one of the sweetest people. And it's just really sad because we all have known he's struggled," the actress and model, 52, tells PEOPLE at an event celebrating season 2 of Netflix's That '90s Show at Button Mash in L.A. on Tuesday, June 25.

Binzer was open about his experience with substance abuse throughout his career, appearing on the VH1 shows Celebrity Rehab and Sober House. He was arrested on charges of battery and drug possession in 2012, according to a TMZ article at the time. A decade later, per Variety, he was also arrested on DUI charges.

"I'm still shocked, and I almost didn't make it here, but I'm OK," says Electra of Binzer, who has three sons: Halo, Gage and Phoenix. "My blessings do go to his children and his family."

Looking back on his life, the Baywatch star says she feels as though Binzer "really tried the best he could" to be a good father and friend. "Everyone that knows him knows that he was actually — no matter what was going on in his life — a very kind person," she adds.

"He just was a very nice friend. I've interviewed him back in the days on MTV Spring Break, and he was always just kind," continues Electra. "And that's what I think that everyone that knows him knows, that he's actually a very, very sweet person — and addiction is not OK. It's serious, and he didn't ever deny his struggles. I just hope everybody that is really, really close to him is OK."

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has not yet listed a cause of death for the Crazy Town frontman.

Binzer entered the music world in 1992 alongside fellow vocalist, rapper and band member Bret “Epic” Mazur, and the pair formed a group called the Brimstone Sluggers — which became Crazy Town in 1995, according to Variety and Deadline.

The two musicians joined forces with fellow members Rust Epique, James Bradley Jr., Doug Miller, Adam Goldstein and Antonio Lorenzo “Trouble” Valli and released Crazy Town's debut album, The Gift of Game, in 1999.

Crazy Town achieved a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with the album's third single, "Butterfly." The band released a second album in 2002 before splitting the following year. Several reunions have since occurred.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Following the band's first breakup, Binzer pursued a solo career and released an album, Happy Love Sick, in 2004. He also collaborated with English music producer Paul Oakenfold on his song “Starry Eyed Surprise,” which was released in 2002 and reached No. 6 in the U.K. music charts.

In addition to his history with substance abuse, Binzer was hospitalized in 2012 after losing consciousness and falling into a coma, before recovering, according to Variety. He also reportedly got into an altercation with Crazy Town guitarist Bobby Reeves in 2023 after one of their shows.

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.