“I wrecked two cars and a motorcycle on Laurel Canyon, and consumed ridiculous amounts of chemicals and alcohol. I did shit that most wouldn’t have survived. I saw lots of friends die, but I lived. Why? God only knows. I don’t want to sensationalize being a fuck-up, but I won’t deny it either.”
— Todd ‘t.Odd’ Wiltse – 2Fast2Die
LAS VEGAS, Nevada — Extremely sad news today as I report that Todd James Wiltse has died.
Unlike some of the other ‘RIP‘ posts I share on this website, this one hits home a little harder for me as Todd was a dear friend and actually my room-mate for many years.
Now I have to put this down in words…
We both considered each other to be best friends for the last 35+ years… but as roomies, buddies and even besties, we could have not been more opposite… and no matter how far the distance or the differences we had, til the very end, we were friends and loved each other like brothers.
Wiltse was diagnosed with and had been been battling Melanoma (skin cancer) for some time, which landed him in and out of the Hospital in recent months.
Of course in traditional Todd style, even up to a week ago during serious health battles, related surgeries, and the rest… he would text me photos from his Hospital bed with an accompanying message that read, “Day 2 of my luxury vacation“, followed by laughing emojis.
The flamboyant, loud and crazy musician known as >insert a half dozen wacky names here< lived a life that had most gripping their seats when he entered the room, but behind all of that brash bravado was a truly shy, very smart, and well-read guy with a deep vocabulary.
Dare I blow his cover of being a bad-ass and tell you all, Todd was actually an accountant for a multi-millionaire dollar movie and distribution company for years.
Yeah… that was Todd... very deceptive in his appearance and what was really underneath that manic-panic hair color, dozens of piercings and tattoos too many to count, was a really sweet guy.
Wiltse was well known on the Sunset Strip in the late 80’s into the 90’s and had several pkas including; Stacey James (The Baby Dolls) Toy Staci (The Zeros), Staci T. Odd (The Mistakes), Todd Trash (Total Chaos) and at some point he become XERO1 and then t.Odd.
He grew up on Harsens Island Michigan an hour outside of Detroit and loved BMX, Twisted Sister, Punk Rock, White Castle and racing Motorcycles too.
To be honest, most of us were sure he would die on a Motorcycle at some point but aside from countless crashes and wipe-outs, he survived those.
I met Todd in the summer of 1989 on our mid-west Tuff tour.
He got on our tour bus in Chicago to party with us after our show at the “Thirsty Whale”… and didn’t leave for a week.
I don’t ever recall we even invited him to stay… but that was Todd.
A few months later in the fall of 1989 he called me from his car phone… he had a black IROC Z-28 with window-louvers and t-tops, along with one of those huge battery-pack phones in the center console.
He calls me and says: “Hey what’s up? I am in L.A.”
I ask: “Where are you, and what are you doing here?“
His reply: “On Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, I am moving here.“
Then I add: “Cool, why don’t you stop over“, and gave him our address… 20 minutes later he was at our apartment… and once again, he never left.
Wiltse first hit the Hollywood club scene as a member of The Baby Dolls with his colorful hair and image that eventually led to him being recruited to play bass for The Zeros.
I remember the call from Sammy Serious: “Hey Stevie, I need your friend’s number, the guy with the purple hair… I need a bassist!”
Todd, not being the greatest player, was forced to learn The Zeros set over a few short days and needed some help… so, who taught him those songs… (?)… C.C. DeVille of Poison and Todd Chase of Tuff.
I believe C.C. and his assistant Robbie ‘Roulette’ Kezie, also bought his plane ticket and took him to LAX to fly out for The Zeros tour.
More craziness ensued, and Todd was usually in the middle of all of it… whether at home, out for the weekend in Hollywood or on tour.
In 1995 he formed his own band The Mistakes who released their debut “Angry Youth” in 1997 along with the follow-up “Dressed For Suckcess” in 1999.
He then joined Total Chaos for their “Punk Invasion” release on Reject Records (2001) and adopted yet another stage-name… this time he was Todd Trash.
If you knew Todd, then you know him on the Warp Tour with dozens of punk bands was likely going to be the end of him… but… somehow he survived that too with only some more bumps, bruises and stories for days.
Todd eventually became a Father and named his only son Bowie Xavier.
Todd was truly 1 of a kind, and this sucks having to write this… but… here we are on November 25th 2025.
Bowie‘s Mother and Todd‘s ex-wife Laura wrote a post today and I’ve decided to add it here as well.
This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to write.
My ex husband Todd Wiltse passed away this morning at 7:47 a.m., with his son faithfully by his side. He left this world peacefully and surrounded by the utmost love.
Thank you to everyone who has been praying, checking in, and quietly holding space for us during these last few weeks. My heart is broken for our son and for everyone who loved Todd.
Please keep his son and our family in your thoughts as we try to navigate this new reality. If you want to reach out or share a memory of Todd, please feel free to DM me. It means more than you know.
Rest in peace, Todd.
I shared this post on my Instagram back on October 7th 2025, as something told me Todd wasn’t telling me how serious his condition truly was.
And, I’ve now learned that he did in-fact try to keep most – if not all of us – in the dark that his days were numbered… typical Todd… but he likely felt he was invincible like he did throughout most of his life.
Now… we say must goodbye… Rest In Peace our crazy friend we’re all going to miss you!
Todd Wiltse is survived by his adult son Bowie Xavier Wiltse.
Todd Wiltse was 56.
Stevie Rachelle ;-(
Stay tuned to Metal Sludge for more Breaking News, Updates and Features along with both New Interviews and Classic 20 Questions.
