Blown Tire Likely Cause of Travis Barker, DJ AM Jet Crash

A blown tire is being investigated as the possible cause for the jet crash that killed four people and seriously injured DJ AM and former blink-182 drummer Travis Barker this weekend in South Carolina. A cockpit recording indicates that the crew thought a tire blew while taking off, after which attempts to abort take-off failed. The crash took the lives of the pilot and co-pilot along with Barker's assistant and bodyguard. According to a witness, AM and Barker were discovered "in the street near the fiery wreck as they frantically tried to douse their burning clothes." Officials are waiting to talk to the two musicians before assessing the cause of crash. Meanwhile, the pair were visited in a Georgia hospital yesterday by Jermaine Dupri, Mandi Moore and Barker's ex-wife Shanna Moakler, who said in a statement, "There are not enough words to express how thankful we are for the outpouring of love and support we have received during this very difficult time. We can only ask for prayers as we heal and mourn the loss of our dear friends who we considered part of our family. Our lives will be changed forever."

Related Stories:
• Travis Barker and DJ AM Suffer Third Degree Burns in Plane Crash
• The 2008 VMA Live Blog
• Travis Barker Sues Energy Drink

• 
  MUSIC Exclusive Live Chat With Linkin Park and Incubus
• 
  MOVIES & TV Peter Travers: 'The Avengers' Has it All
• 
  POLITICS Matt Taibbi: Jon Corzine Is the Original Zimmerman
• 
  VIDEOS Exclusive Premiere: Tenacious D's 'Tinnitus'

Song Stories

“Baby Got Back”

Sir Mix-a-Lot | 1992

While watching a Budweiser commercial during the Super Bowl, Sir Mix-a-Lot thought the skinny female models in the ad didn’t represent reality. So he wrote this ode to ample bottoms, featuring its famous to-the-point lyric: “I like big butts and I cannot lie.” MTV banished the video, featuring shaking booties and sexually suggestive fruit, to 9 p.m. or later. “I thought my career was over,” he told Rolling Stone. “Then I called Rick Rubin, and I told him the video was banned, and he was like, 'Great!' We sold another 2 million records.”

More Song Stories entries »

Twitter