21B: Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys were formed in 1978 in New York City. Their members were Mike Diamond (“Mike D”), Adam Yauch (“MCA”), and Adam Horovitz (“Ad-Rock”). They became friends when they were teenagers.
The Beasties were a unique blend of punk rock and hip-hop. No one had ever done that. Their producer and friend, Rick Reuben, convinced them to use Led Zeppelin samples in three songs on their first album. They never got permission to use their songs – but Led Zeppelin didn’t mind. Here’s the story.
The Beasties’ first big album was Licensed to Ill. Their big hit was the anthem, “Fight for Your Right to Party.” A lot of people though it was obnoxious. (And it kind of was.) But that’s the Beastie Boys. (Heads up! Crude content here.)
As you can probably guess, the Beastie Boys had a wicked sense of humor. For their videos, they often dressed up and acted like crazy characters. Some people say their best song is “Sabotage.” It’s complete chaos!
The Beastie Boys became known for their practical jokes. For instance, sometimes they would fib through an entire interview, making up outlandish stories about their lives.
One of the signatures of their videos is use of a “fish-eye lens.” That’s a special camera lens that makes it look like seeing through a fish bowl. See if you can identify it in “Alive.”
The video for “Body Movin’” is set in a museum or a fancy house. This song is great for dancing. Get your body movin’!
In 1996, the Beastie Boys organized a concert to raise money for Tibetan Independence. In other words, to help the people of Tibet break away from China. The Beastie Boys lent their talent to many great causes, including environmentalism. Here they are at “Live Earth” in 2007. Wouldn’t it be fun to be there?
Adam Yauch (MCA) died in 2012 from cancer. After that, the two remaining members decided that the Beastie Boys were done. This year, a documentary was released about the band. Listen to the two remaining members talk about what it’s like to spend every day with your best friends.