Joey Boots, Howard Stern 'Wack Packer', Dies At 49

Joey Boots at the Gothamist 10th anniversary party (Katie Sokoler / Gothamist)

Joey Boots, who was known for interrupting TV reporters by yelling "baba booey," has died at age 49. Police responded to a 911 call at a Bronx apartment and found him unconscious and unresponsive. EMS pronounced him dead at the scene.

Boots, whose real name was Joseph Bassolino, was part of Howard Stern's Wack Pack. He also co-hosted a podcast, and TMZ reports that "[f]ellow Wack Packer High Pitch Erik went to check on Boots after his podcast co-hosts became worried that he didn't show up for his regular gig. According to a Facebook post from people associated with the podcast, Boots didn't answer the door, so Erik got the building manager to do a wellness check and found Joey, 'sitting in a chair, cold to the touch and with no pulse.'"

Besides "baba booey"-bombing reporters, he also bothered other public figures, like when he shouted, "What's the going rate for a hooker?" during former Governor Spitzer's first event when he was running for NYC Comptroller.

Boots also spent a lot of time roaming the city, talking to and filming people.

Update: Stern himself paid respects: