RIP Adam "MCA" Yauch
“I think every person has the ability to effect change. I think we’re often led to believe that it’s just celebrities [who] have some ability to effect change, but I think that what’s important for us to realize is that everyone of us affects the world constantly through our actions, through our every smallest action, through our every thought, our every word, the way that we interact with other people… we’re constantly affecting the world.”
~ Adam Yauch
(August 5, 1964 – May 4, 2012)
Adam Yauch. [via]
“Today I give thanks to those who fought and died for my right to party.” ~@RichardRushfield
An official statement from the Beastie Boys:
“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 after a near-three-year battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.”
MCA, we love you. You can’t, you won’t, and you don’t stop.
Fellow mourning comrades, you are warmly encouraged to post your favorite BB jam in comments.
May 4th, 2012 at 3:06 pm
I was always partial to Sabotage- one of the greatest songs and one of the best music videos ever.
But I was listening to So What’cha Want earlier and his lines stood out-
“Like I dream I’m flowing without no stopping…”
And that got me.
Lots of folks everywhere are bobbing their heads today, digging through there old CDs…I saw someone post on twitter how he’d never been in a room where anybody objected to Paul’s Boutique being played. I remember as a kid growing up in Kentucky and Texas and Massachusetts, hearing their stuff everywhere. The Beastie Boys appealed to everyone, and with a third of their power gone lies the other bad news- that they will never be the same.
I have been down all day.
Thanks for posting this, Mer.
May 4th, 2012 at 5:17 pm
MCA and the Beastie Boys have had an indescribable effect on me – not only directly, by showing that even someone in the spotlight can seamlessly morph their fun-loving and party-style nature to more world-aware acclaim as they grew as people (and still be respected), but through the pebble in the pond ripple effect of their music upon countless others who have inspired me as a musician. Everybody in the world could emulate this – have fun, and realize you’re not the only one in the world at the same time. Eyes and heart open, there is a path that you can walk and not have to sacrifice any part of your identity in the process.
My favorite BB song has gotta be gratitude. And that’s right.
http://youtu.be/ZdJ5e70Q8mw
May 4th, 2012 at 10:06 pm
HEY GIRL