# Epic Mazur
**Epic Mazur** is the stage name of **Bret Hadley Mazur** (born 1970 in Brooklyn, New York), an American musician, vocalist, rapper, producer, and composer who co-founded the Los Angeles rap-rock band [Crazy Town](https://www.edgepedia.org/crazy-town) with Seth "Shifty Shellshock" Binzer[1](https://xn--meb.pisz.pl/Epic_Mazur) • [2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/). As one of the band's two frontmen, lyricists, and producers, he was behind "Butterfly," the single that topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 2001 and pushed Crazy Town's debut album, *The Gift of Game*, to platinum status[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/) • [3](https://stereogum.com/2199223/the-number-ones-crazy-towns-butterfly/columns/the-number-ones).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Bret Hadley Mazur, born 1970 in Brooklyn, New York[1](https://xn--meb.pisz.pl/Epic_Mazur) |
| Band | Co-founder of Crazy Town with Seth "Shifty Shellshock" Binzer; collaboration began in 1995, initially under the name the Brimstone Sluggers[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/) |
| Signature hit | "Butterfly," number one on the Billboard Hot 100 dated March 24, 2001, where it stayed for two weeks[3](https://stereogum.com/2199223/the-number-ones-crazy-towns-butterfly/columns/the-number-ones) |
| Production role | Co-produced *The Gift of Game* (1999) with Josh Abraham; credited as lyricist, vocalist, and producer in the band[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/) • [4](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2000/BB-2000-12-02.pdf) |
| Albums | *The Gift of Game* (1999), *Darkhorse* (2002), *The Brimstone Sluggers* (2015)[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/) • [5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bret-epic-mazur-mn0000621512) |
| Family background | His father managed Billy Joel; Binzer's father directed the Rolling Stones live film *Ladies and Gentlemen, the Rolling Stones*[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/) |
## Background and formation of Crazy Town
Mazur grew up around the music business through his father, who managed [Billy Joel](https://www.edgepedia.org/billy-joel)[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/). Before Crazy Town, he had already established himself in Los Angeles as a producer and DJ[6](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2001/BB-2001-01-20.pdf).
He and Seth Binzer began collaborating in 1995, and the pair first worked under the name the Brimstone Sluggers before becoming Crazy Town[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/). Billboard dates the origins of the project back to 1992 and describes the band as formed in Los Angeles by Mazur and co-lead vocalist [Shifty Shellshock](https://www.edgepedia.org/shifty-shellshock)[6](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2001/BB-2001-01-20.pdf). The group combined hip-hop's lyrical attitude with live rock instrumentation, with [DJ AM](https://www.edgepedia.org/dj-am) on turntables, and drew influence from rap-rock precedents such as Run D.M.C.'s "Rock Box" and the Public Enemy/[Anthrax](https://www.edgepedia.org/anthrax-american-band) collaboration "Bring Tha Noize"[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/).
## The Gift of Game and "Butterfly"
Crazy Town's debut album, *The Gift of Game*, was released in 1999 on Columbia, produced by Josh Abraham with Mazur as co-producer, and featured appearances by KRS-One, dancehall toaster Mad Lion, and Dirty Unit[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/) • [7](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Hits/00s/2001/Hits-2001-02-09.pdf).
**"Butterfly."** The single, the album's third release, is built on a sample of "Pretty Little Ditty," an instrumental from the [Red Hot Chili Peppers](https://www.edgepedia.org/red-hot-chili-peppers)' 1989 album *[Mother's Milk](https://www.edgepedia.org/mothers-milk-album)* based on the first song guitarist [John Frusciante](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-frusciante) and Flea wrote together[4](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2000/BB-2000-12-02.pdf) • [8](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/crazy-town-story-behind-butterfly). Its writing credits list S. Binzer, B. Mazur, A. Kiedis, Flea, J. Frusciante, and C. Smith, with lyrics by Binzer and Mazur[7](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Hits/00s/2001/Hits-2001-02-09.pdf). Mazur described the song as an appreciation of committed relationships, telling Billboard that a "butterfly" is "the one that makes you want to be a better person," and dedicating his part to his son's mother[4](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2000/BB-2000-12-02.pdf).
The song's rise was slow. The band toured for roughly two years, including a stint on Ozzfest that ended when guitarist Rust Epique suffered a breakdown on the road and the band was pulled off the tour; Mazur also acknowledged drug problems within the group[6](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2001/BB-2001-01-20.pdf) • [8](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/crazy-town-story-behind-butterfly). After a physical single release in February 2001 and MTV support, "Butterfly" reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in late March 2001 and stayed there for two weeks[3](https://stereogum.com/2199223/the-number-ones-crazy-towns-butterfly/columns/the-number-ones) • [8](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/crazy-town-story-behind-butterfly). The hit pushed *The Gift of Game* to platinum status[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/).
## Darkhorse and the band's later years
The follow-up single "Revolving Door" and the second album *Darkhorse* (2002), produced by Howard Benson, failed to replicate the success of "Butterfly," and the band parted ways[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/) • [8](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/crazy-town-story-behind-butterfly). Mazur and Binzer later reunited as the core duo and recorded *The Brimstone Sluggers*, released in 2015 and named after the pair's original group name; the album moved toward straight rap and alternative hip-hop with numerous guest vocalists[2](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/) • [9](https://www.rocksins.com/2015/08/25/crazy-town-the-brimstone-sluggers-25480/).
Binzer died in 2024 at his home in Los Angeles; officials ruled the death an accidental overdose due to the effects of fentanyl, cocaine, and methamphetamine[8](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/crazy-town-story-behind-butterfly). Mazur said he had spoken with Binzer by phone a few months earlier and that Binzer had seemed upbeat about making new music[10](https://www.tmz.com/2024/06/25/crazy-town-founder-epic-mazur-reacts-shifty-shellshock-death/).
## Production and songwriting credits
Outside Crazy Town, Mazur has worked as a producer, engineer, programmer, and composer. AllMusic credits him as producer and composer on Crazy Town's *The Brimstone Sluggers* (2015), as a composer on [Plain White T's](https://www.edgepedia.org/plain-white-ts)' *Every Second Counts* (2006) and [Richard Cheese](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-cheese)'s *I'd Like a Virgin* (2006), and with drums, programming, and composition on [MC Lyte](https://www.edgepedia.org/mc-lyte)'s *The Very Best of MC Lyte* (2001) and a Bell Biv DeVoe compilation (2002)[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bret-epic-mazur-mn0000621512). His recent credits include production and mixing work on *Music From Disneyland Resort 70th Celebration* (2025)[5](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bret-epic-mazur-mn0000621512).
## References
1. [Epic Mazur, Encyklopedia internetowa](https://xn--meb.pisz.pl/Epic_Mazur)
2. [Crazy Town, Music Publishing Roster, Concord](https://concord.com/publishing-roster/crazy-town/)
3. [The Number Ones: Crazy Town's "Butterfly," Stereogum](https://stereogum.com/2199223/the-number-ones-crazy-towns-butterfly/columns/the-number-ones)
4. [The Modern Age, Billboard, December 2, 2000](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/00s/2000/BB-2000-12-02.pdf)
5. [Bret "Epic" Mazur, Credits, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bret-epic-mazur-mn0000621512)
6. [Artists & Music, Billboard, January 20, 2001](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Billboard/00s/2001/BB-2001-01-20.pdf)
7. [#1 Modern Rock Monitor, HITS, February 9, 2001](https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Hits/00s/2001/Hits-2001-02-09.pdf)
8. [How a Red Hot Chili Peppers instrumental turned Crazy Town into a one-hit wonder, Louder](https://www.loudersound.com/bands-artists/crazy-town-story-behind-butterfly)
9. [Crazy Town – The Brimstone Sluggers Album Review, Rock Sins](https://www.rocksins.com/2015/08/25/crazy-town-the-brimstone-sluggers-25480/)
10. [Crazy Town Founder Epic Mazur Says Shifty Shellshock Was Optimistic Before Death, TMZ](https://www.tmz.com/2024/06/25/crazy-town-founder-epic-mazur-reacts-shifty-shellshock-death/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Rock, metal, and popular-band musicians › Hard rock and glam metal*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license