Ciccone had openly discussed his struggles with addiction and homelessness in the past. In 2011, he had said he was homeless and living under a bridge in Michigan. However, he had been recovering after spending time in a treatment center, as reported by his brother Christopher Ciccone in 2017.
Despite his struggles, Ciccone was “enlivened by community and a sense of belonging,” according to his obituary. He is survived by his son, Angelo Lawson-Smith.

