Beastie Boys co-founder dies at age 47
Adam Yauch has died.
Adam Yauch, co-founder of the Beastie Boys, has passed away at the age of 47. Yauch had been treated for cancerous growths in his parotid gland (salivary gland) and a lymph node back in 2009 with surgery and radiation. Even though Adam Yauch contributed to the Beastie Boy’s latest album, Hot Sauce Committee, his illness kept them from touring and it kept him from the groups’ induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame two weeks ago.
Adam Yauch co-founded the Beastie Boys in 1979 with Mike “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horowitz. Although they originally started out has a hardcore punk group, the Beastie Boys saw fame in the underground scene when they released a song called “Cookie Puss” that was based off of a recording of a prank phone call to Carvel. They gained notoriety for incorporating humor with hip hop.
Although Adam Yauch couldn’t make it to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, he did send a letter to be read during the ceremony. “I’d like to dedicate this to my brothers Adam and Mike. 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.”
Adam Yauch is survived by his wife Dechen Wengdu and their daughter Losel.
