Phil Buerstatte

Source: Blabbermouth.net

Former WHITE ZOMBIE and LAST CRACK drummer Phil Buerstatte was reportedly found dead over the weekend in Madison, Wisconsin. No further details are currently available.

Buerstatte was the drummer for WHITE ZOMBIE between 1992 and 1994 and he played with the band on the “La Sexorcisto” tour. He was also in the Wisconsin metal band LAST CRACK from 1986 to 1997.

Buerstatte‘s LAST CRACK bandmate Paul Schluter has issued the following statement on the drummer’s passing:

“We are sorry to have to announce that LAST CRACK drummer and our musical brother Phil Buerstatte has passed away today. He will be greatly missed by his many friends, family and fellow band members.

“Pull out your LAST CRACK albums, crank them up loud and remember what a great drummer he was!

“It is the end of an era for us and sad to say the original lineup will never be able to play together again. Our last show with Phil from 2009 is posted on YouTube in its entirety. The remaining members of the band are discussing doing a tribute show in Phil‘s honor in the coming months. We’ll post details soon.”

Last August, a man claiming to be Buerstatte was arrested on suspicion of defrauding a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Sausalito, California.

The man allegedly tried to pay $75,000 for his treatment at the Alta Mira Recovery Center in June with a fraudulent check and bank account information.

According to KTVU.com, a man claiming to be former WHITE ZOMBIE drummer Phil Buerstatte was arrested last Thursday (August 30) on suspicion of defrauding a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center in Sausalito, California.

The man allegedly tried to pay $75,000 for his treatment at the Alta Mira Recovery Center in June with a fraudulent check and bank account information.

The 46-year-old has been identified as Loren Breckenridge, but investigating officers are yet to ascertain whether he is actually Phil Buerstatte, someone else using his name, or is really Loren Breckenridge and uses Phil Buerstatte as a stage name.

While conducting their investigation, Sausalito police learned that Breckenridge was being interviewed by Novato Police Department after a rehabilitation center in that city had reported that Breckenridge was staying there and that he was the subject of a warning bulletin issued by the National Association of Addiction Treatment Centers.

Sausalito Sgt. Bill Fraass tells the Marin Independent Journal, “He would show up and tell people he was this rock star and needed treatment. In all my years of police work, I have never seen a case like this — someone defrauding rehab centers.”

Breckenridge was arrested on suspicion of passing fictitious checks, identity theft and fraudulent use of account information. He also has outstanding warrants in Florida and Minnesota, and an extensive criminal past, including arrests in numerous states for forgery, passing fictitious checks, theft and vehicle theft.

Buerstatte was the drummer for WHITE ZOMBIE between 1992 and 1994 and he played with the band on the “La Sexorcisto” tour.

Source: Blabbermouth.net