Beastie Boys Adam Yauch "MCA" Dead at 47

It's a sad day for the music industry today as one-third of the Beastie Boys, Adam Yauch AKA "MCA" has passed away. He was 47.In 2009, Yauch was diagnosed with cancer after a tumor in his salivary gland was found. As a result, the Beastie Boys announced they'd be canceling...

By Betsey Denberg

May 4, 2012

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It's a sad day for the music industry today as one-third of the Beastie Boys, Adam Yauch AKA "MCA" has passed away. He was 47.

In 2009, Yauch was diagnosed with cancer after a tumor in his salivary gland was

found. As a result, the Beastie Boys announced they'd be canceling future tour dates and postponing the release of a new album. Most recently, it came to light that Yauch had taken a turn for the worse when he was unable to attend the Beastie Boys induction to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in March.

Yauch cofounded the Beastie Boys with Mike "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horowitz and eventually became one of the most influential groups in music history. In addition to his music career, he cofounded the Milarepa Fund to raise money for the Free Tibet movement. He's survived by his wife and daughter.

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