Mickey Avalon

Avalon was raised in a nonpracticing Jewish family and had a turbulent childhood. His paternal grandparents were Holocaust survivors who were imprisoned at Auschwitz. Though his father cleaned up his act and began attending Alcoholics Anonymous, he was struck and severely injured by a drunk driver leaving a meeting. At age 19, Avalon made the decision to take his father off life support, ending his life. During his late teens, Avalon briefly adhered to Orthodox Judaism in an effort to stay off the streets. Avalon would continue as a prostitute and drug dealer until finding success in the music industry. By his early 20s, Avalon married, had a daughter, and moved to Portland, Oregon. While battling drug addiction, Avalon moved in with his sister (also a drug addict) with the hope that they could aid each other in recovery. During this time, his sister relapsed and died from a heroin overd…