Scratching on albums for Madonna, DJ AM, born Adam Michael Goldstein in 1973, began playing private events for celebs like Jennifer Lopez, and performing at posh clubs like Las Vegas’s PURE.

Although he once faced weight problems—he underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2003—he dated leading ladies including Mandy Moore and was engaged to Nicole Richie in 2005.

In September 2008, he was critically injured (his face was severely burned) in a private plane crash that killed four people. DJ AM, along with performance partner Travis Barker, saved their own lives by jumping out the door of the burning plane as it came to a halt.

Prior to his death in August 2009, the disc jockey owned the hot spot LAX and served as the resident Friday night DJ at The Palms Hotel and Casino.