As reported by Rolling Stone magazine, Adam “MCA” Yauch one of the founding members of iconic hip-hop group the Beastie Boys passed away Friday at the age of 47.
Yauch, who had been diagnosed in 2009 with a tumor in his salivary gland, had been in treatment for cancer for the last several years, though it is unverified as of this writing whether it was that disease which ultimately caused his death. He is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents Frances and Noel Yauch.
While I could go on and on listing all of Yauch and the Beasties’ accomplishments (and there are many of them), I would only be echoing what is already being said all over the Internet and the rest of the world. Instead, I wish to simply use this space to highlight my favorite Beastie Boys memory in honor of a fallen musical pioneer. Sure, the Boys may have progressed far past their wild youth and become mature artists after the release of their debut album Licensed to Ill, but to me they will always be that crazy trio you wished you could invite to a party, no matter the eventual consequences.
Watch the video for the classic Beastie Boys track “(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)” here:
Remember, no sleep until heaven Adam. May you get to kick back with the Dalai Lama and cold bottle of Brass Monkey. There will never be another who could rhyme the rhyme quite as well as you. Mahalo.
