After the devastating death of Beastie Boy Adam Yauch earlier this month, the group’s remaining members Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond (Mike D) had a decision to make: retire or keep making music.

“I think Yauch would genuinely want us to try some crazy things we wanted to do but never got around to,” Mike D tells Rolling Stone. “He’d say, ‘That’s exactly what you should be doing now.’”

The duo says they looked to Adam as “their leader” and that his untimely death at the age of 49 has left them completely destroyed. “I’m totally confused,” reveals Adam. “I’m walking my dog and I’ll start crying on the street. I don’t know what to do. It f—ing sucks.”

After the Beastie Boys’ final concert at Bonnaroo in June 2009, Adam mentioned that his throat was bothering him, and within a month, he was diagnosed with salivary cancer. “He really never considered dying from cancer an option,” explains Mike D. “Because of that we didn’t consider that to be an option.”

Over the course of his life, Adam transformed from high-school outcast to hip-hop star to enlightened Buddhist and feminist. After his passing on May 4, “monks in monasteries all over the world began chanting to ease his soul’s passage.” In NYC, Adam’s friends including Michael Stipe, Jack White and Ben Stiller “gathered on a rooftop for a nighttime celebration of his life.”

Do YOU think the Beastie Boys should keep making music?

Jennifer Kamm

More Adam Yauch News

1. Celebs Mourn Adam Yauch’s Death On Twitter
2. Beastie Boys Rapper Adam Yauch: Dead At 47

Beastie Boys rapper Adam Yauch — known by the stage name MCA — died May 4 at age 47. In the years leading up to his death, he fought a brave battle with cancer, and sadly leaves behind a wife and child. Within minutes of the news of his passing being made public, tons of celebrities took to Twitter to pay their respects to the pioneering musician.

Nickelback: “Absolutely devastated to hear about the passing of Adam Yauch of @beastieboys. Our best wishes to his family, band mates, friends and fans.”

Jonah Hill: “I’m filled with so much sorrow to hear about the world losing Adam Yauch. He was such a beautiful person and artist. My heart is broken.”

Adam Scott: “RIP Adam Yauch Such a sweet man.”

Billy Corgan: “Sad news about Adam Yauch’s passing,a man of dignity + spiritual conviction. I always had great respect for him in times we met and talked.”

MC Hammer: “R.I.P. Adam Yauch Beastie Boys #RIPMCA”

Kevin Smith: “RIP Adam Yauch. You made my teenage years more fun and your art made it easier for me to do what I do. For a Beastie, you sure were a beaut.”

Greg Mottola: “RIP Adam Yauch. What a great, talented guy.”

Ben Stiller: “So sad that Adam Yauch is gone. A truly great musician & filmmaker. He stood for integrity as an artist. What a loss. He was a very good man.”

Jimmy Fallon: “So sad to hear of the passing of Adam Yauch. He was a great performer, director, father, humanitarian and New Yorker. #RIPMCA”

Clark Gregg: “Really sad about the loss of this excellent fellow.”

Rachel Dratch: “Just gasped upon reading the news that Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys has passed away. Such sad news. Inspiring talent…”

Milla Jovovich: “we lost one of our greatest talents today. my prayers and thoughts go out to the family and friends of Adam Yauch. Beastie Boys for life.”

Marlon Wayans: “Rest on peace Adam Yauch. Beastie Boys were always the “coolest whiteboys” when I was growing up. They erased color lines the opposite way.”

Justin Timberlake: “Crushed to hear the news of Adam Yauch’s passing. A true pioneer of art. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones. #RIPMCA”

Rainn Wilson: “RIP Adam Yauch (MCA of the Beastie Boys). He was a super-genius, a visionary and, most importantly, a really good person.”

Donald Glover: “Adam Yauch was an amazing artist and one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. His music was some of my favorite. Truly saddened. RIP MCA.”

Lance Armstrong: “Crushed to hear the news of Adam Yauch’s passing. #RIPMCA”

Common: “God Bless the soul of Adam Yauch aka MCA of the Beastie Boys. RIP”

Fred Durst: “A very sad day indeed. Adam Yauch RIP.”

Duran Duran: “Rest in Peace Adam Yauch. Our condolences to your friends and family.”

Busy Philipps: “RIP Adam Yauch- gone way too soon. My heart goes out to his wife and daughter.”

Rev Run: “R I P Adam… I’m devastated. Praying for Adam Yauch’s family from the legendary Beastie Boys. Youll be missed!”

Travis Barker: “Rest In Peace Adam Yauch /MCA. 4ever somebody i looked up to & had the pleasure of meeting. Damn this bums me out, we lost one of the best.”

will.i.am: “#restinpeaceMCA 1 of my favorite hiphop groups…hiphop raised a lot of us & now we have to wake up because are hero’s are dying too younge.”

Pete Wentz: “beastie boys paved the way for so many who came after. #RIPMCA”

Fred Durst: “A very sad day indeed. Adam Yauch RIP.”

David Boreanaz: “R.I.P. Adam Yauch. Was all about the Beastie Boys on cassette on the Boom box down at the Jersey shore. True artist.”

Adam meant so much to so many people. His memory lives on in his music. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends.

What was your initial reaction to the news of Adam’s death, HollywoodLifers?

More Celebrity Deaths

1. Levon Helm: Dead At 71
2. Mike Wallace: Dead At 93
3. Andy Rooney Dies At 92 — So Sad

Beastie Boys rapper Adam Yauch has passed away at age 47.

Adam had struggled with cancer prior to his death, Global Grind reports. His cause of death is currently unknown.

Vidal Sassoon Dies at 84 — Legendary Hairstylist Dead, Cancer A Possible Cause

Adam started the Beastie Boys in 1979 with Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz and Mix Master Mike. The group won several Grammys together.

He is survived by a wife and child.

We wish the best for the Yauch family.

[Global Grind]

– William Earl

More Celeb Deaths:

1. Levon Helm: Dead At 71
2. Mike Wallace: Dead At 93
3. Andy Rooney Dies At 92 — So Sad

Adam Yauch has been a pioneer of hip-hop as a founding member of the New York City-based trio, the Beastie Boys.  Having released eight studio albums with the band, Adam is currently recovering from cancer of his salivary gland after being diagnosed in 2009.  Get all the details at Astrology.com! 

Happy birthday, Adam Yauch! (Or MCA … or Nathaniel Hornblower … or Bloach.) As a founding member of the Beastie Boys, you’ve created a bold platform on which to express yourself artistically, and you’ve certainly left your indelible imprint on the music world — two accomplishments your creative and ambitious Sun sign of Leo can roar about. This year, you’ll enjoy renewed vigor to demonstrate your talent … and sleep even less!

Adam Yauch, the world wouldn’t be the same today without your words of wisdom– “you’ve got to fight, for your right, to par-tay.” We hope today, on your 45th birthday, you’ll be living up to your lyrics!

Adam Yauch, what an accomplished life you’ve had as a founder, and member, of the Beastie Boys! You’ve inspired so many in the music industry today and could even be said to be an early inventor of hip-hop. We wish you and your brass monkey the best birthday ever! And we hope today, your special day, you aren’t fighting for your right to party! Astrology.com has all the details.

Happy birthday, Adam Yauch! (Or MCA … or Nathaniel Hornblower … or Bloach.) As a founding member of the Beastie Boys, you’ve created a bold platform on which to express yourself artistically, and you’ve certainly left your indelible imprint on the music world — two accomplishments your creative and ambitious Sun sign of Leo can roar about. With Uranus making a benevolent trine to your Sun this year, you’ll enjoy renewed vigor to demonstrate your talent … and sleep even less!

Powered by Astrology.com

For your daily love, career, beauty, food, & dogscopes click on your sign!

Aquarius January 20 - February 18	Pisces February 19 - March 20	Aries March 21 - April 19	Taurus April 20 - May 20
Gemini May 21 - June 20	Cancer June 21- July 23	Leo July 24 - August 22	Virgo August 23 - September 22
Libra September 23 - October 22	Scorpio October 23 - November 21	Sagittarius November 22 - December 21	Capricorn December 22 - January 19