RIP - MCA

I'm still a little shocked that Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys has died. I knew he was ill with cancer for a while, but man does this make me feel old and sad. Licensed to Ill, Paul's Boutique and Ill Communication were in the CD rotation pile when my brother and I used to play on the computer. I remember it was on one such occasion when we were listening to Girls that our Nanna walked in and started bopping away to the song saying it was a nice happy tune rather then that angry growling that we usually have on. My brother and I exchanged a glance, then the tongue in cheek misogynistic 2nd verse hit and her face dropped before walking out the room. Embarrassing at the time but a good chuckle now.

 It would of been easy to write the Beastie Boys off as talentless, gimmicky fads and I think a lot of people did but behind the cheekiness and joyful exuberance of there early days was a bunch of down to earth guys who cared a lot about their craft and were genuinely talented musicians. They were always experimenting with different styles, Jazz, Funk and of course their Hardcore Punk roots. Their music was great, then of course they drop the lyrics and rap better then most rappers with such a lovely flow.

And if Anybody needs an additional reason to hate Chris Martin then here's Coldplays tribute to MCA. Although it's less of a tribute and more like pissing on his grave.

They're honoring him by playing the one song the Beastie Boys hate? The one that was supposed to be a parody, but became popular among all the people who took it at face value?[1]
In fact don't play that video, just go watch Sabotage instead.

All bands have one of them don't they :)