The Beastie Boys are back in the spotlight owing to Spike Jonze's documentary ‘Beastie Boys Story.'
It chronicles the band members' personal journeys as well as their 40-year friendship. While Mike Diamond and Adam Horovitz tell us their stories, Adam Yauch is noticeably absent.
Yauch was a founding member of the Beastie Boys, going by the stage name MCA. He was present throughout the group's transition from experimental punk to experimental hip-hop.
Yauch tragically died on May 4, 2012, at the age of 47. You might be curious about the circumstances surrounding his untimely and terrible death. We've got the details right here.
How Did Adam Yauch Die?
Adam died as a result of salivary carcinoma. In 2009, a tumor in his salivary gland was identified. He was diagnosed with early-stage cancer and underwent surgery and radiation therapy.
Yauch expected to make a full recovery even though his cancer had progressed from the parotid gland to a lymph node. Unfortunately, three years after his diagnosis, his battle was cut short.
“It is with great sadness that we confirm that musician, rapper, activist, and director Adam ‘MCA' Yauch, founding member of the 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 nearly three-year battle with cancer,” an official statement from the Beastie Boys said. He was 47 at the time.”
Unfortunately, Adam missed the Beastie Boys' induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2012 owing to his ongoing cancer treatments.
Yauch's sickness prohibited him from appearing in the music videos for ‘Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2.' The group has not performed live since 2009.
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Aside from his committed musical career, Yauch was active in the Tibetan liberation movement. After 9/11, he co-founded New Yorkers Against Violence with the Beastie Boys.
He ventured out into filming and production as a talented individual. Yauch's company, Oscilloscope Laboratories, is most known for producing Banksy's ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop.'
