Being mostly a casual fan of The Beastie Boys over the past few decades and not following them much at all in the past decade I was stunned to hear that Adam had passed. It’s shocking when someone who seemed so vibrant and is your age is suddenly gone. Godspeed.

Rest in Peace MCA. Time to crank some “No Sleep ’til Brooklyn!”

Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch of the popular and pioneering rap group Beastie Boys, died today (May 4) after a nearly three-year battle with cancer. The bold use of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Aerosmithsamples on their first album, 1986’s ‘Licensed to Ill,’ helped introduce a whole new generation to hip-hop. The group would expand their sound by adding live instruments – MCA was one helluva bass player — and successfully weave rock, funk, jazz and punk influences into their later albums. Yauch’s friend and peers took to Twitter immediately to express their love and sadness for this recently inducted member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:

TOMMY LEE (@MrTommyLand): RIP Adam Yauch!!!! Dammit!!!!!

 

Duff McKagan (@DuffMcKagan): RIP Adam. Your contributions to music and humanity will be remembered forever. Our hearts go out to MCA’s family, and fellow Beastie’s.

 

Slash (@Slash): Sad day. MCA was fucking awesome. RIP man. We’ll miss you very much.

 

Tom Morello (@tmorello): Rip dear Adam Yauch. Words can’t express the sadness and loss. Ur humor, talent & gentle soul are just irreplacable. Be at peace brother.

 

Paul Shaffer (@paulshaffer): Very sorry to hear about Adam Yauch from The Beastie Boys.  Glad though that the Rock Hall was able to honor the Beasties last month.

 

CM Punk (@CMPunk): MCA. Everybody is a Beastie Boys fan. That’s hard to do. A great life.

 

Eddie Trunk (@EddieTrunk): The Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch is dead at 47, Rolling Stone has confirmed. very sad news

 

Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt): Oh, no.  No no no.  Goddamit.  Seriously.  Goddamit.  #RIPMCA

 

Flea (@flea333): Prayers and all the love I could ever muster for Adam Yauch. What a beautiful man. God bless his beautiful soul. A class act all the way

 

Published by rbtaleman

Heavy metal (fiend/friend?) Writer, frustrat(or), frustrat(ee), decorated U.S. Navy veteran, Husband(twice), father(three times), grandfather(of seven), FM radio veteran, Concertgoer, music collector, muscle car aficianado. Grown up since five. Child since 45. View all posts by rbtaleman