Beastie Boys Adam “MCA” Yauch has died at the age of 47.

The Beastie Boys member passed away in New York City, after a three year struggle with cancer.

Yauch was the Beastie Boys’ founding member, bringing together Michael Diamond (Mike D) and Adam Horovitz (Ad Rock), to form the group in 1981, after being inspired by a Black Flag gig he had attended at the age of 14. What initially started as a hardcore punk band, changed its identity in 1984 when Hip-Hop producer, Rick Rubin, produced the group’s work under his label, Def Jam Records. The resultant Beastie Boys album, License To Ill, dropped in 1986, and was a revolutionary force in the history of Hip-Hop.

As well as providing vocals on nearly every Beastie Boys track, Yauch directed the band’s videos, and played bass on several albums. Yauch also had a lasting interest in the struggle for Tibetan social justice, and was one of the organizers of the 1996 Tibetan Freedom Concert. He co-founded the Milarepa Fund, and leant his support to the Students For A Free Tibet movement.

In 2002, Yauch set up his own studios in New York City, Oscilloscope Laboratories, and began producing music, as well as distributing films. 2008’s Gunnin’ For That #1 Spot, a film about high school basketball players, marked his cinematic debut as a director.

It was in 2009 that Yauch began radiation therapy to treat a tumour in his parotid gland, leading to the cancellation of the Beastie Boys tour, and the rolling back of their album release.

Although Yauch frequently gave his fans health updates throughout his long illness, he was conspicuously absent at the Beastie Boys’ induction into the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame last month, and did not appear publically during the release of Hot Sauce Committee Pt. 2

As reported by YR

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