[Updated at 3:03 p.m. ET] Adam "MCA" Yauch, a founding member of the pioneering rap band the Beastie Boys, has died after a nearly three-year battle with cancer, the band's publicist said Friday. He was 47.
Yauch revealed in July 2009 that he had surgery for cancer in a salivary gland and a lymph node.
What is salivary gland cancer?
Yauch's death comes less than a month after the Beastie Boys were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Because of his fight with cancer, Yauch did not attend, Rolling Stone magazine reported.
The Beastie Boys – Yauch, Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond – did not perform that night. But Horovitz read a letter from Yauch to the audience.
"I'd like to dedicate this to my brothers Adam and Mike," Yauch wrote, according to Rolling Stone. "They walked the globe with me. It's also for anyone who has ever been touched by our band. This induction is as much ours as it is yours."
Yauch's cancer delayed the release of the band's most recent album, "Hot Sauce Committee Part Two," for two years. It was supposed to come out in 2009 but instead was released in spring 2011.
The Beastie Boys' debut album, 1986's "Licensed to Ill" – featuring the singles "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party)," "No Sleep Till Brooklyn," "Paul Revere" and "Brass Monkey" – was the first rap album to reach No. 1 on the Billboard album charts.
Yauch was a founding member of the group, which played for the first time at his birthday party in 1981, according to the band’s Facebook page.
He converted to Buddhism in the 1990s after visiting Nepal and hearing the Dalai Lama speak in Arizona, he told the Buddhist magazine Shambhala Sun in 1995.
As a Buddhist, Yauch became an advocate for Tibetan freedom, organizing concerts involving the Beastie Boys and other acts to raise money for the cause, including the first Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1996. Several similar concerts followed.
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Never was too big a fan of these guys, but I can say they are giants of their craft. RIP!
very clever john....however I think you know what time it is...
It's time to get ill
I guess he's in BROOK LYN.
Bands and artists come and go, but legends never die. Rest in peace MCA, you will be missed.
MCA was with it
And he's my ace
So I grabbed the piano player and I punched him in the face
He's the Elvis of Generation X. I seriously feel like part of my childhood is dead now. Thanks for the memories, Adam. RIP
It really saddens me that MCA is gone, and that some people can't show any respect for someone who was very successful and just passed away; nor show respect for his fans, family and band mates. It just goes to show that some people care about nothing or nobody but themselves, and have to spew their jealousy-driven hate on the rest of us.
RIP MCA
Crossed racial barriers and made music for everyone. Beastie Boys helped people to stop calling rap "black music" and opened the the doors for other greats like 3rd Bass, Vanilla ICE, Em, and more. You will be missed and thanks for the memories!!!
Rip, mca.
pour one out for MCA
That funky monkey...Brass Monkey- chunky...That funky monkey...
"U Gotta Fight for Ur Right (To Paaarrttaaayy)" was my sister's & my Party Anthem #1, when the Beasties released it! We were glued to the video! They spoke to my motto in life perfectly: "Have Fun!" Later "Brass Monkey" became my fave! I loved the fact that they were real musicians & expertly blended & melded styles, beats & samples! Talent like that can't be taught or bought, it's a God given gift & I'm so glad they had the opportunity to share it w/the rest of us! Paaaarrttaayy On, MCA, like only you can!!
We all are paying for eighties.....now
please dont use the words rap and music in the same sentence.
Who?
Just found out about Adam's news.
Will miss Yauch's contribution in their unique, funny and energetic music videos. RIP, he was a great soul.
Sad. Their music was part of the mixture that fueled many a road trip. RIP MCA...