Beastie Boys co-founder Adam Yauch (MCA, right) has died from complications of cancer.
Adam Yauch, co-founder of rap-rock pioneer The Beastie Boys, has died from cancer at age 47, multiple sources confirm.
He sat out the band’s recent induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame due to ill health, and his cancer treatments had delayed the anticipated release of the 2011 album “Hot Sauce Committee Part 2.”
The gravelly voiced Beastie Boys rapper and the most conscientious member of the seminal hip-hop group, has died, his mentor Russell Simmons confirmed Friday.
The Beastie Boys — a trio of white Jewish kids — established themselves as one of the most respected groups in hip-hop at a time when white rappers were few. The group sold more than 40 million albums and recorded the first hip-hop album ever to top the Billboard 200, the band’s 1986 full length debut, “Licensed To Ill.”
The band hasn’t performed live since his diagnosis in 2009. Yauch founded the Beastie Boys in 1979 in Manhattan-Brooklyn with Adam “King Ad-Rock” Horowitz and Michael “Mike D” Diamond. The band’s sound spanned genres and decades, and included everything from hardcore punk to funk, disco, folk, rap, hip-hop, rock and jazz.
According to the Associated Press, the cause, time and whereabouts of death weren’t immediately known. Yauch had undergone surgery and radiation to treat his cancer.
At the time, Yauch expressed hope it was “very treatable.”
Yauch was a founder of the Milarepa Fund, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and activism regarding the injustices perpetrated on native Tibetans by Chinese occupational government and military forces.
In 1996, Milarepa produced the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park, attended by 100,000 people, making it the biggest benefit concert on U.S. soil since 1985’s Live Aid.
Stars from every genre and walk of life have been tweeting their sadness in the wake of the announcement. At one point, eight of the top 10 trending topics on Twitter were Beastie Boys-related song titles and #RIPMCA.
Wrote The Rev Run from Run-DMC, “R I P Adam... I’m devastated. Praying for Adam Yauch’s family from the legendary Beastie Boys. Youll be missed!”
Officials from the Beastie Boys first record label, Def Jam, wrote, “Man...that one hurts. Our prayers go out to Adam Yauch and his family. #MCA #BEASTIEBOYS Rest Well.”
Said electronic music pioneer the Chemical Brothers, “RIP Adam Yauch. thanks for the amazing music,continual inspiration.”
Hayley Williams of Paramore wrote, “RIP ADAM MCA YAUCH.”
Professional athlete Lance Armstrong, who himself suffered a battle with cancer, wrote, “Crushed to hear the news of Adam Yauch’s passing. #RIPMCA”
Musician and activist Tom Morello shared, “Rip dear Adam Yauch. Words can’t express the sadness and loss. Ur humor, talent & gentle soul are just irreplacable. Be at peace brother.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.The Beastie Boys is now streaming that full album for free,
HERE.
... Man. The Beastie Boys is one band that's been there with me my entire life. In the sixth grade, their samples taught me about Led Zeppelin, Kool & the Gang, Kurtis Blow, Black Sabbath, The Clash, War ... and that was just 1986's "
License to Ill." What an education. I've loved them whole-heartedly ever since.
RIP, MCA.
