Leading names in rock and metal have paid tribute to Beastie Boys bassist Adam Yauch, who died yesterday at the age of 47 following a three-year battle with cancer.
He’d spent time during his illness exploring alternative therapies and in 2010 reported he was making good progress. He later appeared in public to counter suggestions the cancer in his salivary glands was in remission, but said: “I hope to be cancer-free soon.”
Slash:”Sad day. MCA was fucking awesome. We’ll miss you very much.”
Perry Farrell: “As sobering news as you’ll ever receive. This part of life (death) is resolute – causes one to consider their own life, and the way they’re living it. Today is a grey day. It feels as if there is no escape. Adam was a guy who brought happiness and energy to many.”
Styx: “Another great one has passed. Truly one of the best at what he did.”
Jeff Scott Soto: “You showed us how to fight for the right – long live the Beasties.”
Lenny Kravitz: “Rest in peace. You are a legend. No sleep ’till Brooklyn.”
Fred Durst: “A very sad day indeed.”
Anthrax: “RIP MCA. Cancer, you’re an asshole.”
Krist Novoselic: “Thank you for the Sabotage bass riff and many other great grooves. Adam also worked for justice and peace consciousness.”
Billy Corgan: “A man of dignity and spiritual conviction. I always had great respect for him in times we meet and talked.”
Sheryl Crow: “Adam was a remarkable human being. My boys and I will miss his gentle spirit and his love of life.”
Randy Blythe: “Beastie Boys broke a lot of rules and a lot of ground. Bummer I never saw ‘em. MCA has gone on to his final egg raid on mojo. Peace, bro.”
Other tributes came from New York Senator Chuck Schumer, Moby, Duran Duran, cyclist Lance Armstrong and actor Ben Stiller.
Beastie Boys replaced their website’s homepage with a detailed statement, saying: “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.”
“With fellow members Michael ‘Mike D’ Diamond and Adam ‘Adrock’ Horovitz, Beastie Boys would sell over 40 million records, release four number one albums, win three Grammys, and the MTV Video Vanguard Lifetime Achievement award. Last month Beastie Boys were inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame, with Diamond and Horovitz reading an acceptance speech on behalf of Yauch, who was unable to attend.
“Yauch is survived by his wife Dechen and his daughter Tenzin Losel, as well as his parents Frances and Noel Yauch.”
-Classic Rock Magazine
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