Jef Hickey, a writer with extensive ties to the adult industry, died on April 18 at the age of 56 due to an accidental overdose of heroin and morphine. Hickey was known for his work as editor of New Rave magazine and for co-creating the video series Backstage Sluts.

The County of Los Angeles Medical Examiner confirmed Hickey's death, which occurred in a hospital. The coroner's office identified him as Jeffrey Hickey, a 56-year-old White/Caucasian male. The formal pronouncement of death was made on Friday at 5:55 a.m., with the cause listed as "Sequelae of Heroin/Morphine Intoxication" and the manner of death as "Accident." His birthdate was May 14, 1968, making his age at death 56.

Industry Contributions and Collaborations

Hickey's career in the adult industry included several notable roles. He served as editor of New Rave magazine, a publication that combined rock and porn themes. He also co-created the video series Backstage Sluts with director Matt Zane, a project that shared a similar thematic focus.

Beyond his editorial and creative work, Hickey held positions as a publicist for Notorious Productions, Zane Entertrainment, and Kick Ass Pictures. He also contributed freelance writing to AVN. His personal life intersected with the industry through his brief marriage to AVN Hall of Famer Tyffany Million.

The concept for Backstage Sluts originated at Notorious Productions in 1996, where Hickey developed the idea with Toby Dammit, who had previously worked under him at New Rave. This precursor, titled Crew Sluts, featured Hickey's only recorded sex scene, an oral session with Sophia Rio.

Backstage Sluts achieved significant success, partly due to its inclusion of interview segments with prominent musicians such as Jonathan Davis of Korn, Fred Durst of Limp Bizkit, Lemmy of Motorhead, and Mark McGrath of Sugar Ray. The series garnered attention from mainstream publications like Rolling Stone and VH1. An AVN AAAA review of its initial installment described it as "a breathtaking look within the music industry."

Early Life and Rock & Roll Roots

Before his involvement in professional writing, Hickey's primary passion was rock and roll. He traveled internationally as a roadie for the band Megadeth. A 2004 profile in LA Weekly detailed how Hickey leveraged his connections with rock stars to secure an entry point at Zane, leading to the launch of Backstage Sluts with Matt Zane.

The LA Weekly profile, written by Greg Beato, described Hickey's early life and deep immersion in rock culture. At 15, he worked as a roadie in Boston, unloading equipment for bands such as Motorhead and Twisted Sister. By 17, he joined Megadeth on tour, an experience that introduced him to hard drugs and other aspects of the rock and roll lifestyle. The article noted his history with various sexually transmitted infections and extensive drug use over more than a decade and a half.

In 2004, at the age of 35, Hickey had recently been paroled from a three-year sentence in a federal prison in Sheridan, Oregon. The profile highlighted the challenges he faced in transitioning from the rock and roll road life as he aged, particularly with drug issues and parole restrictions affecting his employment prospects.

Key Facts

  • Jef Hickey died on April 18 at 56 years old.
  • His death was attributed to an accidental overdose of heroin and morphine.
  • Hickey served as editor of New Rave magazine.
  • He co-created the video series Backstage Sluts with director Matt Zane.
  • Hickey was briefly married to AVN Hall of Famer Tyffany Million.
  • He previously worked as a roadie for Megadeth.