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Beastie Boys original member John Berry has died, according to a report. He was 52. Berry, who is credited with coming up with the band’s name, died on Thursday in hospice care at a facility in Danvers, Massachusetts at 7:30 a.m., Rolling Stone reports. The musician's father, John Berry III, told the magazine that his son had battled frontal lobe dementia, which had gotten worse in the past few months. When the band formed in 1981, Berry played as the guitarist, before leaving the group in 1982 after performing on the band's first EP Polly Wog Stew. While Berry was...

This column is about politics. Today, it’s not. Still, there’s Watergate, Paul Revere, Edward R. Murrow, fighting for your right, so, kinda still. Adam Nathaniel Yauch died Friday. If you’re age 16-66 — maybe 106 — you know him as MCA, one-third of the Beastie Boys. He was 47. Way too young. But gone. Now, half-white Barack Obama (exactly my age) didn’t say a word, even though he was talking to college kids that day, but make no mistake, MCA was no JayZ or Kanye West. This guy was the real deal, groundbreaker, up from his bootstraps, Brooklyn boy made...

Adam Yauch of the hip-hop trio the Beastie Boys has died, according to hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons. He was 47. "Our prayers go out to the family of Adam and the entire Beastie Boys crew," Simmons' site, the Global Grind, wrote. Yauch, who was known as MCA in the group, had been in treatment for cancer. He was diagnosed with cancer in his parotid gland and lymph node in 2009.

So far, it's not clear if the death is related to the rapper's battle with cancer. Russell Simmons' website GlobalGrind.com first reported the death. We have spoken to people independently connected to the rapper who also say he is dead. Yauch co-founded Beastie Boys in 1979 with Mike D, Mix Master Mike, and Ad Roc. The group has won multiple Grammys. Yauch became a vegan at the recommendation of his Tibetan doctors. Yauch is survived by his wife and daughter. He was 47.

LOS ANGELES (AFP) – Hip-hop outfit the Beastie Boys have delayed their upcoming tour and album release after founding member Adam Yauch was diagnosed with cancer, the band said Monday. In a video message posted on the band's website, Yauch, better known by his stage name MCA, told fans he was to undergo an operation next week after being diagnosed with cancer in a salivary gland. The 44-year-old musician, who appeared alongside fellow member Adam Horowitz, said in the statement he had noticed a "little lump" in his throat around two months ago which he recently reported to his doctor....

We had an extended debate at the office today....what was the best "MTv Unplugged" performance? Me? Hands down....Alice in Chains! Before any reasons are discussed ..... I was curious as to anyone else's opinions or preferences on the topic?

Love it or hate it, you have to admit: A mullet hairstyle is distinctive There are two kinds of people in this country, and forget that blue-state, red-state thing. You're either for a mullet or against a mullet. What's a mullet? Do not mock us. Yes, a mullet is a spiny-finned, feeble-toothed fish, but we all know it's so much more. A mullet is a hairstyle characterized by the hair cut short in front and on the sides but kept long down the back. It's not a cutting-edge style. But recently, the mullet has re-emerged as a pop culture object...

Morissette, Mike D Declare Eco War Sat Oct 18, 4:03 PM ET By Wes Orshoski NEW YORK (Billboard) - Alanis Morissette (news), Beastie Boy Mike D and producer Rick Rubin have joined environmental groups in an effort to oust the federal government's national parks czar. In a letter posted on Morissette's Web site, the artists claim that Deputy Interior Secretary J. Steven Griles is failing to properly oversee such national parks as Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. "He has been leading the efforts to drill for oil and gas on these public lands, and he's been working to weaken...

This is an email response from Jagger, a DJ for Dallas 102.1 radio station. He was responding to my email which stated I was organizing a boycott of Clear Channel and its sponsors for playing the Beastie Boys anti-American, anti-Bush song.

The Beastie Boys have posted an anti-war song titled In A World Gone Mad," via their official website. The new track, the band's first in more than four years, speaks out against what Beastie Boy Adam Horovitz claims is an unjust war with Iraq. "This song is not an anti-American of pro-Saddam Hussein statement. This is a statement against an unjustified war," Horovitz said. Member Adam Yauch added: "We felt it was important to comment on where the U.S. appears to be heading now. A war in Iraq will not resolve our problems. It can only result in the deaths...

Beastie Boys Beastie Boys Take On Bush With First Song In Five Years 03.11.2003 Beastie Boy Mike D Photo: MTV News "You just look at the TV and see this guy who’s supposed to be representing us and it just feels ridiculous." -- Beastie Boys' MCA  Following a recording hiatus of nearly five years, the Beastie Boys have been driven out of hiding by the need to comment on the scary state of the world. In the middle of a New York writing and rhyming session for their next album, MCA, Ad-Rock and Mike D hammered out a song...