But defs not an overdose, says coroner… 

The Santa Cruz Sentinel reports today that Shawn “Barney” Barron’s autopsy report has come back positive for meth.

According to the Santa Cruz County coroner, Barney died from a “rupture in his heart facilitated by methamphetamine use.”

Surely Barney lived a radical life. Along with his Westside brethren, the dude spent nearly twenty-five years getting weird, from Mavs to Mexico and everywhere in between.

Barney collapsed and died at home on May 5. The autopsy report says he had “20 nanograms of meth per milliliter of blood” which apparently is a fairly small amount. Which is to say, he didn’t overdose. Santa Cruz Country Sherrif Nick Baldbrige said Barney had  “used meth close to the time he died or used a “decent” amount of it before then and it remained in his system.”

But many are unqilling to concede Barney’s death was caused by drug use.

Barney came up the ranks alongside Nor Cal heavies like Flea, Peter Mel, and Anthony Ruffo. Since the release of Josh Pomer’s 2010 documentary Westsiders — which chronicles the group’s meth-fueled charging throughout the 90’s and 2000’s — many of the Santa Cruz boys have proudly flown their sober flags high. (Click here.) 

Barney’s Pops defended his son, claiming “[Barney]was not a drug addict. He could have died surfing or riding a bike. The heart attack was coming.”

Close pal Flea said Barney had been clearing weeds from a dusty property in Bonny Doon. His heart rate likely was up from the hard work, and he coughed much of the way home.

“Certain parts of your life are harder than others. Barney was just getting through it,” Flea told the Sentinel. “It’s just difficult. I don’t want that (meth use) to even come out about Barney. He’s my friend.”

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