Beastie Boys rapper MCA dies

Beastie Boys rapper MCA, real name Adam Yauch, has died. He was 47. He had been treated for cancer but it is not clear if it is related to his death.

Live updates

Tributes to Beastie Boy Adam 'MCA' Yauch

Twitter has been full of tributes from artists to Beastie Boy rapper Adam 'MCA' Yauch. Fellow New Yorker Moby, Justin Timberlake and Will.i.am. all expressed their sadness.

Advertisement

Yauch formed the Beastie Boys for his 17th birthday

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Yauch taught himself to play bass in high school, forming a band for his 17th birthday party that would later become known the world over as Beastie Boys.

With fellow members Michael "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Adrock" Horovitz, Beastie Boys would go on to sell over 40 million records, release four #1 albums - including the first hip hop album ever to top the Billboard 200, the band's 1986 debut full length, Licensed To Ill - win three Grammys, and the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award.

Last month Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, with Diamond and Horovitz reading an acceptance speech on behalf of Yauch, who was unable to attend.

– NASTY LITTLE MAN, BEASTIE BOYS PUBLICISTS

Beastie Boys' publicists: Adam Yauch died 'after a near-three-year battle with cancer'

It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist and director Adam "MCA" Yauch, founding member of Beastie Boys and also of the Milarepa Foundation that produced the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits, and film production and distribution company Oscilloscope Laboratories, passed away in his native New York City this morning after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.

Yauch is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents Frances and Noel Yauch.

– Nasty Little Man, Beastie Boys Publicists

Advertisement

Load more updates Back to top

Latest ITV News reports

  • Beastie Boy dies

    Adam 'MCA' Yauch, founding member of the Beastie Boys, has lost a three-year-battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.