Movieline.com [DEFUNCT SITE] has published an interview with Adam Yauch that centers on Oscilloscope's new DVD club but slightly touches on the Beastie Boys's future plans. Asked about the new album and tour dates, Yauch responds that the band are "in the process of figuring that out now." Yauch admits that the band have been discussing performing at the Coachella Music Festival in 2010.

The Recording Academy announced the nominations for the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards tonight. Beastie Boys are nominated in the category Best Rap Performance By A Duo Or Group for "Too Many Rappers" featuring Nas. Other nominees in this category are Eminem, Dr. Dre, and 50 Cent; Fabolous and Jay-Z; Kid Cudi, Kanye West, and Common; and Kanye West and Young Jeezy. The award ceremony will be held in Los Angeles on January 31.

[VIDEO REMOVED]

In this video, Dante Ross provides a short history of the Beastie Boys, describing the band before they became "the super-positive, politically correct Beasties" of today. Fans will be touched by Ross's kind wishes for Adam Yauch and appreciate his unique story-telling ability.

"That's What I Said (The NYC Remix by Adrock and Mike D)" by Norah Jones is streaming at RCRD LBL beginning today. The remix will be available to purchase digitally and on vinyl on January 12.

🎵 Have a listen at Pandora.com.

Here's something to be thankful for: Amazon has a three-for-free mp3 offer, which is good through November 30. Use THIS LINK [DEAD LINK] and follow the instructions to get three mp3s for free. Although you can use the offer to get any artist's music in Amazon's mp3 library, you might want to first review the Beastie Boys mp3 catalogue to determine if you're missing anything. Perhaps The Mix-Up bonus tracks? Perhaps some of the special tracks on the remastered albums? Or maybe one of Adrock's remixes? And don't forget to review Mix Master Mike's and Money Mark's catalogue.

The mp3 offer is good only for U.S. residents. The link above is not unique, so feel free to pass it on to friends and family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

My friend at Capital Records has confirmed that Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 1 is back on the label's schedule and will be released within the first three months of 2010. An exact street date will be announced soon.

Until a new release date was in the works, I didn't want to read, or refer others to read, any of the press or reviews that came out of the Beastie Boys's European press tour in June 2009, as I felt it would be a mean tease to read about an album that had an uncertain future. Now that the album is definitely back on track for release, I'll return to regularly posting updates and information on the album.

Beastie Boys have contributed a signed photo to the Rock for Kids Charity Auction. Rock for Kids is a non-profit organization that provides free music education to underprivileged kids and teens. The photo will be auctioned off on December 4. Interested buyers may bid online at the Rock for Kids website [DEFUNCT SITE].

Adam Horovitz will be DJing at the Tony Clifton and Vaginal Davis concert at Santos Party House in New York City next Monday (November 16). Horovitz will share DJ duties with wife Kathleen Hanna and Gibby Haines (Butthole Surfers). Tickets to this 18+ show cost $20 and may be purchased online at Ticketweb.com.

Presumably, Horovitz and Hanna were invited to DJ at Clifton's and Davis's concert when the couple attended a benefit party recently at NYC gallery Participant Inc., where Davis exhibited artwork and Clifton provided the entertainment.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, singer Norah Jones revealed that the Beastie Boys have completed a remix of a song on her new album, titled The Fall.

Norah Jones and the Beastie Boys, you ask? "We decided to have people I admire do some remixes," she explained.

The title of the Beastie Boys remix and the format in which it will be released are unknown. Details about the remix should surface closer to Jones's album release date of November 17.

Photo by Michael Loccisano

We know what you're thinking. No, Adam Horovitz has not begun a new career as a golf caddy. And, yes, he is wearing argyle socks.

Horovitz rocked this look when he attended a screening of Schmatta, an HBO documentary about New York's garment district, at the HBO Theater in New York City on October 12. Horovitz's former brother-in-law, Donovan Leitch, was a consulting producer for the film.

See additional photos of Horovitz at the screening Zimbio.com [DEFUNCT SITE].


Photo by Jemal Countess

Horovitz, again with hat, met up with Mike Diamond the next night to attend a party celebrating the NYC premiere of Spike Jonze's film Where the Wild Things Are at the Museum of Modern Art. Although we've heard reports that Adam Yauch also attended the party, we haven't seen any photographic evidence that he was in the company of his bandmates.

Photos of Horovitz and Diamond at the Where the Wild Things Are party are located HERE [DEAD LINK].

Mix Master Mike has jumped aboard the tweeting train. Fans may now follow the Beastie Boys's resident DJ on Twitter at http://twitter.com/serialwaxkiller. (UPDATE: He changed his Twitter account to https://twitter.com/mixmastermike.)

According to a recent tweet, Mix Master Mike has just completed work on a new album, titled Napalm Rockets. We assume that it is the mix CD that he talked about in an interview with the Las Vegas Sun earlier this fall. He also has a new EP titled Plasma Rifle coming out soon. It will be packaged with his Skullcandy headphones design.

🎵 "Pop Your Balloon"

Follow the link above to listen to the Beastie Boys' new song "Pop Your Balloon," which is featured on the NBA Live 10 video game.

This is only a rough version of the song ripped from the game and not the final version as it will appear on Hot Sauce Committee. According to Adam Yauch, the band changed the song after recording "Too Many Rappers."

For everyone who has been anxious for another update on how Adam Yauch is doing, this was sent out in an e-mail today by the man himself. Good news! He's healthy, happy, and smiling!

hey all,

so i just got back from dharamsala, india. went over there to see some tibetan doctors, but as it worked out, the Dalai Lama was giving a 3 day teaching, so i was able to attend that as well.

i'm feeling healthy, strong and hopeful that i've beaten this thing, but of course time will tell. i'm taking tibetan medicine and at the recommendation of the tibetan doctors i've been eating a vegan/organic diet, which surprisingly enough was harder to do in india than it is now that i'm back home. here i can just shop for the right food and cook... a lot easier than depending on restaurants.

when i was in india i visited an ani gompa (a nunnery) called jamyang choling. they did a puja (religious ceremony) for me to help me get well. one nun said to me "we do prayers and then you are better." so i've got that going for me, which is nice.

i will put a link to their web site (below) but it doesn't do justice to how amazing it is to actually go there and hang out with them. i sponsor a few nuns at jamyang choling. there are about 125 nuns there now and more keep joining. when i first met them i think there were only 13 and they were living in some abandoned cow sheds. then they bought some land with some donations, and with more donations they started building rooms for housing, classrooms, a prayer hall, 2 stoopas..... they now live on a beautiful complex in this incredibly lush, peaceful patch of land in lower dharamsala. cows walking around, birds singing, they are growing mangoes and bananas, and they have a whole garden where they grow herbs and vegetables.

i asked how many nuns still need sponsorship. they said 50. it's about $350 a year to sponsor a nun if you are interested.

http://www.jamchoebuddhistdialectics.org/

we have not set a new release date for the record yet, but i'm hoping it'll be in the first half of next year. looking forward to that, but in the meantime, i'm just enjoying a little downtime in massachusetts, taking walks in the woods and hanging out with the family.... still doing a little work related to oscilloscope, watching screeners and attending some screenings, but for the most part, just laying low.

if you are interested i'll send out some little updates every now and then on the oscilloscope twitter account.

thanks again for all of the well wishes and prayers, and the letters were great too, brought a smile to my face reading them.

talk to you soon,
yauch

There has been a lull in updates at Mic to Mic due to the Beastie Boys inactivity. All we can give readers today is an update about what the individual band members have been up to lately.

Adam Horovitz has been devoting his time to shared activities with his wife, Kathleen Hanna. They are both blogging (HIS and HERS) and have been spotted attending local NYC events together. This week, Horovitz made a spectacle of himself at the "Our Hit Parade" show at Joe's Pub, where he shared a front-of-stage table with Kathleen. According to one audience member, Horovitz kanyed the show, grabbing the mic from the performers to address the audience. We're awaiting video of Horovitz's shenanigans.

Horovitz was also spotted at the recent Passion Pit/Phoenix concert in Central Park. We hear he was a dancin' fool. His other activities of late have been walking his dog and playing softball.

Like Horovitz, Mike Diamond has been focusing on the family. He spent the summer with his wife Tamra Davis and their children in Malibu, where Mike was spotted surfing on a regular basis. Mike continues to support Tamra's internet cooking show, appearing more prominently in it than he has in past. (See the latest episode HERE.)

Next week Mike will be involved with "Magic, Martinis, and Mario," a fund-raising event for the Mario Batali Foundation at Del Posto in NYC. We're not exactly sure what he's doing other than attending, but his name has been bandied about in publicity for the event. Tickets for the fundraiser are available Mariobatalifoundation.org.

The person every fan wants to hear about is, of course, Adam Yauch. Although there haven't been any new updates on his health (No news is good news, right?), there have been sightings of him out and about in NYC. As all of the sightings have been at food joints, we believe the sightings to be factual. Yes, the news we have on Yauch is he's eating.

Mix Master Mike is still touring non-stop. The newest date added to his performance schedule is at Rok Vegas on October 3 (that's today!) in Las Vegas, which is an afterparty show for the Biggest Tattoo Show on Earth expo. Last month, Mix Master Mike promised big things for fans in October, including his Skullcandy earphones design, a new album, and a new web site. His old website has already been removed, and an announcement of the new site is in place. Keep yours ears and eyes open for announcements from Mix Master Mike.

Money Mark has stayed busy by collaborating with other artists and blogging on Tumblr, where he has been sharing photos and stories about his world travels and musical friends. Mark has a upcoming release to note. "Robo Dancing," a song he wrote for an appearance on the children's television show "Yo Gabba Gabba!" is on a compilation album titled Yo Gabba Gabba: Music Is Awesome. The album will be released on October 20.

Adam Horovitz and Kathleen Hanna were guests on WFMU 91.1 FM's "Beastin' The Airwaves! with Keili" show this week. You may listen to a recording of the show HERE.

Horovitz and Hanna opened the show by singing a jingle for the show and chatted with Keili about the MTV VMAs, the Beastie Boys success, youth empowerment, and other things throughout the 3-hour show.

Each year the Down Syndrome Association of Central Texas (DSACT) publishes a calendar that shows celebrities and individuals with Down syndrome sharing a passion. The organization's goal is to show that people with Down syndrome have passions, hobbies, and interests like anyone else. For its 2010 calendar, the DSACT recruited Adam Yauch to participate.

The DSACT will unveil the photos that appear in the calendar at a gala event this Saturday, September 19, from 5-9 pm at the Rough Hollow Yacht Club in Lakeway, Texas. The event is free and open to the public.

The calendar costs $12 and is available for pre-order at www.dsact.com [DEFUNCT SITE]. The organization will begin mailing calendars next week.

The DSACT tells us that, for Yauch's calendar page, he and his friend Lance share their passion of the outdoors.

Beastie Boys fans will have to wait a bit longer to hear Hot Sauce Committee, but there is no wait to hear new music from Money Mark.

Last winter, Mark and his friends Shawn Lee and Tommy Guerrero spent two weeks jamming and recording in Mark's L.A. studio. The results of their sessions can be heard on their self-titled release Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls.

One song from Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls, titled "Astro Blue," may be downloaded at LARecord.com [DEFUNCT SITE] (courtesy of the artists' label, Ubiquity Records). Additional songs from the album may be heard at Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls's Myspace page.

The album, which is out today, is available to purchase at Amazon, iTunes, and other fine music merchants.

Mix Master Mike talks about his new album in an interview with the Las Vegas Sun. The album, titled Plasma Rifle, will be available next month, packaged with the DJ headphones that he designed for Skullcandy.

Mix Master Mike describes the new album as "instrumental, break bass, hip-hop, dubstep, scratch music. It's aggressive, it's a sound assault in terms of weaponry—take a bazooka launcher."

In the interview, Mix Master Mike reveals that, in addition to the new album and headphones design, he has a new mix CD, web site, and iPhone application coming out this fall.

In a second interview with the Sun, Mix Master Mike says that he hopes to be touring again with the Beastie Boys as early as December. "It just depends on my man's recovery," he says, referring to Adam Yauch.

Mix Master Mike will be performing at Blush Nightclub in Las Vegas this Sunday (Sept. 6).

From The Las Vegas Sun:

Mix Master Mike cranks up the heavy artillery
Keyed-up turntablist would love key to city — or even to Wayne Newton’s estate

By Melissa Arseniuk
Sept. 2, 2009

“I’m really skillful with my hands,” Mix Master Mike boasts. “I’m the hardcore b-boy, hip-hop extraordinaire … When people come to see me they know I’m not just standing there.”

The busy-handed DJ played a MAGIC party at Rain last night and will make a second appearance at Blush on Sunday.

While he’s quick to tell you about his DJ dexterity, he’s just as fast to tell you he hates a lot of what he plays during his club gigs.

“When you go to clubs people want to hear top 40 (expletive),” he explains, “and you got to play top 40 stuff, but then not play it at the same time.”

When the DJ, whose real name is Michael Schwartz, is asked to share his thoughts about top 40 music, his response is verbal nails.

“I don’t even know what the (expletive) top 40 is now, I don’t even know,” he says. “I love the new Jay-Z (expletive), like ‘Run This Town’ and there’s some stuff by T.I. that’s dope …. (and) there’s this one by Wale and Lady GaGa that’s alright, it’s called ‘Chillin,’ but that’s as far as I’d go.”

The rest of it, he says, is “whack.”

“I hate all of them,” he says. “It’s awful.”

When it comes to big name techno DJs like Tiesto, David Guetta, or Rain’s Saturday night resident, Paul Oakenfold, the mixmaster is more diplomatic.

“I think they do what they do well,” he says. “I know that they make a lot of money doing what they do and they make a lot of people of happy … so you can’t knock it.”

Still, that doesn’t mean he’s a fan.

“That’s not my thing,” he says. “I just don’t get that music and I bet they could say the same thing for our music.”

Yet he concedes to the masses and incorporates many of the popular dance tracks that make him cringe into his club set — albeit with a distinct, Mix Master Mike twist.

”I take songs that people know and remix them live and try to make them harder-edged and more aggressive than they really are,” he says.

The club tracks Mix Master Mike will force himself to play in Las Vegas this week are a far cry from the hip-hop beats he is known for. And he knows the crowd at Blush won’t look anything like the audiences that he’s used to playing for alongside the Beastie Boys.

“For me, it’s a job,“ he says of his club performances. “I do what I do, and I leave.”

Still, the 39-year-old turntable pioneer appreciates the challenge presented by the new audience.

Instead of just a show, it becomes a mission.

“It’s kind of like the art of war, you know, knowing where and which angle to attack from,” he says.

“At Blush, people want to go there to dance and have a good time,” he says. “You don’t want to hit ‘em too hard. People are there not to die, they’re there to have a good time.”

The challenge, he says, is “as a DJ you want to keep your integrity.”

“I try to keep it interesting, keep it fun,” he says -- but he knows many of the clubgoers at Blush on Sunday won’t expect what will be coming from the booth.

“It’s an aggressive sound assault,” he says. “I’d refer my music to, like, a bazooka launcher, SIG Sauer P226, a Gatling gun, or a firing cannon.”

He says his sound has become more violent over time.

“It definitely got more aggressive, I’ll tell you that,” he says, noting, “It’s more bass-heavy.”

The DJ doesn’t seem like a violent guy, judging from his casual demeanor and the playful banter exchanged over the phone while he speaks from his Hollywood home. But for a nonviolent guy, he sure likes the word “aggressive.”

He uses is a lot: when he describes his music, his live show, and his soon-to-be-released album, too.

“I have a new record coming out, it’s called “Plasma Rifle,’ and it’s aggressive,” he says, dropping his favorite adjective one again. “It’s hip-hop, dubstep, break-bass, instrumental.”

While the sound has intensified, he says the tracks remain true to form.

“I’m just making original compositions and getting back to my roots,” he says. “It’s Mix Master Mike music; crazy, insane.” “It’s really dope,” he assures. “I’m really proud of it.”

Next month is going to be a big one for the superstar DJ: In addition to the new record, he will also launch a new Web site; a signature set of headphones (thanks to a partnership with Skull Candy); and an iPhone application, too. What’s more, a sequel of his video game, “Scratch Ultimate DJ” is in the works, as well.

As if that wasn’t enough, he plans on reuniting with the three hip-hoppers that made him a mainstream star later this year. He says he hopes to hit the road with the Beastie Boys as early as December.

“It just depends on my man’s recovery,” he says, referring to B-Boy Adam "MCA" Yauch, who underwent surgery for throat cancer last month.

Yauch is expected to make a full recovery, but the scare forced the group to cancel their tour, including headlining gigs at All Points West in New York on July 31 and at San Francisco’s Outside Lands this past weekend.

Mix Master Mike recently talked to his partner in hip-hop, post-op. “Adam’s doing good, he’s doing real good,” the DJ assures. “We’ll be on the road in no time.”

While the three MC's and one DJ don’t have any dates to re-schedule in Las Vegas since they weren’t planning on coming here in the first place, Mix Master Mike says a Sin City show isn’t out of the question.

“Anything can happen … during tour planning so hopefully we’ll be out there,” he says, noting a little incentive could help speed the process.

“If we could get the key to the city…” his voice trails off, suggestively, before it breaks into a laugh.

When told that a key to the Playboy Club would be a more reasonable demand, the DJ recomposes himself and doesn’t bite.

“The Playboy Club is just the Playboy Club. We want the key to the city. We want access to … Wayne Newton’s (estate),” he demands, laughing once again.

Key or no key, he hopes his next gig in Vegas will be alongside Yauch and fellow Beasties Michael "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz.

“I wouldn’t mind going out there with the boys,” he says. “It’d be dope.”

With the release date of Hot Sauce Committee still in question, the next chance to hear a song from the Beastie Boys's new album may come with a video game. One of the songs on Hot Sauce Committee, titled "Pop Your Balloon," is used in EA Sports's NBA Live 10. The game, which will be released on October 6 in Playstation 3, PSP, or Xbox 360 formats, is available to pre-order now. EA Sports is offering a free NBA Live 10 soundtrack with a reservation of the game. The bonus soundtrack is available if you reserve through the EA Sports online shop or from Gamestop (online and in-store).

View the full tracklist for the bonus soundtrack HERE [DEAD LINK].

Update: Due to licensing issues, the bonus soundtrack was downgraded to a sampler with 13 songs. The Beastie Boys song is NOT on the bonus CD.

The Hello Nasty Remastered Edition digital album is now available to download at Amazon almost a full month in advance of the scheduled release date of September 22.

The remastered edition includes 10 new songs and several skits. The titles of the new songs are "Auntie Jackie Poom Poom Delicious," "The Biz Grasshopper Experiment," "Creepin'," "Dirty Dog," "The Drone," "Learning Remote Control," "Piano Jam," "Stink Bug," "Switched On,"and "20 Questions Version."

All of the new songs, with the exception of "The Biz Grasshopper Experiment," are instrumentals. "Learning Remote Control" is not really a song nor a skit. It's literally what the title says: the band learning to play "Remote Control."

A cursory listen reveals that some of the songs on the remastered edition have different lyrics and vocalizations than on the original album.

Update: The album is no longer available to download. Apparently, Amazon made a mistake posting the files. At one point, the Amazon listing said the digital album had a revised release date of August 25. Now it's back to being available on September 22.

This video interview was filmed in June when the Beastie Boys received the Street Icon Award at the MTV Japan Awards in Tokyo. It includes some talk about food (of course) and a brief comment about Hot Sauce Committee.

"What kind of album is it?" the interviewer asks.
"The really good kind," replies Adam Horovitz.

Three emcees or three robots...Money Mark performs well with others.

For a behind-the-scenes look at Money Mark's appearance on the live-action children's television show "Yo Gabba Gabba!", watch THIS VIDEO.

It's his birthday, but fans received the present: good news.

Adam Yauch has updated fans of his health status in an official fan e-newsletter. He writes:

i'm about a week and a half out of surgery now and rapidly recovering from it [...] my neck and jaw are still pretty stiff from the surgery, but it gets better everyday. had the stitches out this past monday... so things are moving along [...] the next line of treatment will be radiation. that involves blasting you with some kind of beam for a few minutes a day, 5 days a week, for about 7 weeks. that will start in a few weeks.

In the email, Yauch also acknowledged the tributes by artists at All Points West and thanked fans for sending positive thoughts his way.

Happy Birthday, Adam!

Beastie Boys have been nominated for an MTV Video Music Award in the unusual category of "Best Video (That Should Have Won a Moonman)" for their video of "Sabotage" (which should have won in 1994). U2, Radiohead, and Bjork, among others, are nominated in the same category.

The award will be given based on viewer votes. You can vote for the Beastie Boys HERE (registration required) [DEAD LINK]. Voting is open until September 13.

In honor of the 40th anniversary of Woodstock, French entertainment site Fluctuat.net [DEFUNCT WEBSITE] asked the Beastie Boys and several other artists their opinion on the legendary music festival. Instead of discussing anything about the festival, Beastie Boys (sans Adam Yauch) chose to discuss their feelings on hippies, define what a hippie is, and decide if Mike D is a hippie or not.

For those who don't understand French: Adam Horovitz's response at the end of the video is to the question, "Would you being willing to participate in a new Woodstock festival?"

Video Transcription

Adam: I don’t like hippies very much. I don’t trust them. So I’m not sure how I feel about the Woodstock thing.

Mike: And actually, I was thinking about this earlier. To some degree, I am a hippie, but I also don’t like hippies. Even though in some certain ways I am. I am a vegetarian. A former vegetarian, I guess. You know, I spend a lot of time in health food stores.

Adam: But I think what determines a hippie is somebody that takes shit from your refrigerator and doesn’t pay for it or doesn’t replace it.

Mike: Well, I’m definitely not that. That’s more like a freeloader.

Adam: Yeah! Like a hobo, you know, a grifter. Boxcar jumper.

Mike: Also, in terms of hygiene, I don’t think I’m a hippie. You know, I keep things up. You know, keep up appearances.

Adam [in reply to the question, "Would you being willing to participate in a new Woodstock festival?”]: Yeah, if the money’s straight, you know what I’m saying, I’ll do damn near anything. You know what I’m saying?

Here's some good news for Beastie Boys fans who are attending Lollapalooza. Mix Master Mike will be performing at Belmont Army, a vintage clothes store in Chicago, on August 6 from 6-8 pm. This is a Lollapalooza FREE show, sponsored by Adidas.

Update: According to the schedule at his management's site, MMM will also be playing the RiNo in Chicago on August 6 and the Manor, also in Chicago, on August 7. Both places are "guest list nightclubs"—not really the kind of place the average MMM/Beastie Boys fan would want or could even get into.

Following Adam Yauch's cancer announcement, Beastie Boys cancelled their appearance to headline the All Points West Festival in Jersey City, NJ, on July 31. Jay-Z replaced the Beastie Boys as headliner and opened his set with the Beastie Boys's "No Sleep Til Brooklyn" as a tribute to the band.

🎵 "Too Many Rappers (Instrumental Version)"

You've heard the full song and the a cappella. Now listen to the instrumental version of "Too Many Rappers," which is on the 12" vinyl single.

Thanks to Mike for ripping the audio from vinyl.

Word on the street is Adam Horovitz and Mike Diamond will be making an appearance at All Points West before Jay-Z's set on Friday night. At this point, we cannot substantiate this rumor with any facts. It is, however, in line with their personalities to want to address the audience and say something about Yauch and their having to back out of the festival.

Photo by Jonathan Alcorn

Adam Yauch is the subject ofa new feature article in the Financial Times. The article focuses on his work with Oscilloscope Pictures. The interview was conducted before he learned of his illness.

From hip hop and hard partying to high art
Matthew Garrahan
July 28, 2009

Adam Yauch is ambling through the lobby of the Landmark cinema, stopping to chat with people attending the Los Angeles Film Festival.

A founder member of the Beastie Boys, Mr Yauch – or MCA as he is known on stage – is on the west coast to talk about his film company, Oscilloscope Laboratories. Watching the besuited, greying 43-year-old hip-hop star at work, it is hard to believe that he was once deemed so serious a threat to British decency that morals campaigner Mary Whitehouse led calls for him to be barred from entering the country.

That was in 1987, when the band he formed with Adam Horowitz (Ad-Rock) and Mike Diamond (Mike D) had its first UK tour – a huge, hydraulic penis formed part of their stage show. With a hard-partying reputation and a penchant for dubiously procured Volkswagen badges, the Beastie Boys sparked a tabloid frenzy.

But the New York band shed the bad-boy antics long ago and have become one of hip-hop’s most respected acts. Mr Yauch is still a member of the band but recently embarked on a new phase of his career that has taken him to Hollywood.

Oscilloscope Laboratories has existed for only 18 months but has already made a name for itself in film circles thanks to its acquisition of several highly regarded movies. Privately financed by Mr Yauch, the company buys independently made films and takes them to a wider US audience.

“The vision was to start small and grow incrementally,” explains the teetotal Mr Yauch over an orange juice in the Landmark bar.

Oscilloscope is not a vanity project – Mr Yauch is intimately involved in day-to-day operations. He has enlisted David Fenkel, an executive with Think Film, which specialises in independent movies, as a partner and together the two have crafted Oscilloscope’s acquisitions strategy, buying films at festivals such as Cannes and Sundance.

They have scored several critical successes since starting the company, buying 16 films and, so far, releasing 10 of them. Dear Zachary, a harrowing documentary about the life of a murdered man, won a slew of awards on its release last year while Wendy & Lucy, starring Michelle Williams, was also well received. The company recently acquired The Messenger, starring Woody Harrelson and Samantha Morton, and will release it in the autumn.

Oscilloscope’s offices and the 12 people who work there are in the same Manhattan building as the Beastie Boys’ studio, where the band is recording its latest album.

The album’s release and upcoming tour have been postponed, however. Shortly after meeting the Financial Times, Mr Yauch discovered he was suffering from cancer of the salivary gland. The disease is localised and was discovered early, and in a relatively upbeat YouTube message, Mr Yauch describes the cancer and the treatment he will receive as a “pain in the ass …it’s something that’s very treatable and in most cases they’re able to get rid of it completely”.

While he is undergoing treatment in New York he plans to continue working on Oscilloscope.

It is a good time to be involved in independent film in spite of the economic gloom. The sector had become overcrowded in recent years as big Hollywood studios launched their own speciality labels. But in the past 12 months the landscape has changed, with Paramount and Warner Brothers closing niche labels to cut costs and switching their focus back to big-budget blockbusters. This has created opportunities for smaller operators like Oscilloscope.

“Film acquisition costs have come down because there is less competition around,” says Mr Fenkel, who plays basketball with Mr Yauch when the two aren’t working. “So we’re in a good spot.”

He and Mr Yauch decline to comment on what they pay for their films, or how much their releases have generated. The cost of a typical independent film can range from a nominal sum to more than $500,000. Oscilloscope will weigh up the cost of marketing and promoting the film when making an offer to buy a title.

Their deals have been structured in different ways: sometimes their filmmaker partners are promised more of the “back-end”, or profits generated by a film after its release. Other filmmakers prefer a larger upfront payment in return for a smaller share of the profits.

Mr Yauch wants the company to be seen as filmmaker-friendly. “There’s a real stigma attached to film distribution,” he says. “The assumption is that if you produce a movie you will never get paid on the back-end. That won’t happen here.”

His background as musical artist and performer has helped when dealing with filmmakers. “They know I will identify with what they are trying to do,” he says. “I’ve dealt with companies and been screwed. We won’t do that …we want to do simple, transparent deals and pay people on time.”

The next step is production.

“So far, the films we’ve released have been picked up from festivals. But now we’re being approached by filmmakers – directors with scripts,” says Mr Yauch who has already directed and produced a film for Oscilloscope, a basketball documentary called Gunnin’ for that Number One Spot.

But producing films is expensive and requires fresh capital. He and Mr Fenkel are considering several scripts and are talking to producers but say there is no rush.

The longer-term aim is to turn Oscilloscope into a creative force. “Part of the idea is that if we continue to put out great films people will recognise the brand.”

It is easy to lose money in the film business but Mr Yauch and Mr Fenkel say they are content to build the business slowly. They also have little interest in becoming fixtures on the Hollywood circuit.

“Some people are really passionate about film and some just want to be stars,” explains Mr Yauch, who has little to prove in the star stakes. “I’m more interested in film.”

Related to the article is a blog post by photographer Jonathan Alcorn, who photographed Yauch for the Financial Times article.

The a cappella of "Too Many Rappers," which is included on the 12" single, greatly aided the Beastiemania.com crew's transcription of the song lyrics. Listen along to the audio HERE and let us know if we got it right or wrong.

Too Many Rappers

Mic check, mic check

One, two, three
Too many rappers and there's still not enough emcees
It goes three, two, one
MCA, Adrock, Mike D, that's how we get it done
Like ladies and gents, attention
Nas in the house with Beastie Boys
We can turn it out
Perpetrators, we can point 'em out
So if you got something on your mind, let it out

Yo! I've been in the game since before you was born
I might still be emceeing even after you're gone
Strange start, I know, but my skills still grow
The 80s, the 90s, 2000s, and so
On and on until the crack of dawn
Until the year 3000 and beyond
Stay up all night, I emcee
And never die 'cause death is the cousin of sleep

Because I'm back with a bang, boogie oogie oogie
Strawberry Letter 23 like Shuggie
Oh my god, just look at me
Grandpa been rappin' since '83
I'm supersonic like J.J. Fad
Crazy-ass shit pullin' out the bag
Don't forget the tartar sauce, yo! 'cause it's sad
All these crab rappers, they're rapping like crabs

I have carte blanche, the vagabond
Nas is the narcissist
My pockets are rotund
I'm no killer
But compared to you, I'm more realer
You ain't a shotta mobster or a drug dealer
A slug peeler, you're not
Mafioso, no
You ain't got the cut-throat in ya, beginner
I ain't tryin' to hear your racket
You work a police dog, you snitch, you rat
You wear that jacket

How many rappers must get dissed?
Gimme eight bars and watch me blast this
I'll start to reminisce when I miss
The real hip hop with which I persist
Like rum in mojitos
Bullets and banditos
Matzo balls in soup
Jackets and troop
Yes, y'all! This is one is for the history books
Nasty Nas, what's the word?
Count it off in the hook

One, two, three
Too many rappers and there's still not enough emcees
It goes three, two, one
MCA, Adrock, Mike D, that's how we get it done
Like ladies and gents, attention
Nas in the house with Beastie Boys
We can turn it out
Perpetrators, we can point 'em out
So if you got something on your mind, let it out

'Cause this the type of lyric that goes inside your brain
To blow you bullshit rappers straight out the frame
My lyrics spin 'round like a hurricane twister
So get your hologram on off of Wolf Blitzer
Too many rappers to shake a stick at
I ought to charge a tax for every weak rap I had to listen to
'Cause we've been makin' stacks like Stax Records
My squad, we got a pack
We never coming wack

To all you crab rappers, and hackers, and circuit-benders
Tweaked on Splenda
I take the cake, I stole the mould
The golden microphone, well that's mine to hold
And why all these biters all up in my crotchspace
Sniffin', buffin', huffin'
And mean muggin' with the Blimpie Bluffin
Back up off me, suckers! You ain't sayin' nothin'!

I broader than Broadway
I was the project hallway
Dual tape recorder
Lacing oratorials all day
I'm just gettin' started on this beat, this is foreplay
And when the song's finished, I can sing along with this
By the way, I have a strong fetish for Christian Louboutin steppers
I hear Russian blondes the wettest
But anyway I better pay homage to my fellas
And that's what's on my mind
And the rhyme, who's next up?

Mike D, the man of mystery
History in the making and now we're taking
Titles, awards, and accolades
Scare the competition as I sharpen my blades
We come together like peanut butter and sandwiches
Like pen and paper, like Picasso and canvases
Rockin' stadiums to shitty bars
Go back in time, send a fax from my car

One, two, three
Too many rappers and there's still not enough emcees
It goes three, two, one
MCA, Adrock, Mike D, that's how we get it done
Like ladies and gents, attention
Nas in the house with Beastie Boys
We can turn it out
Perpetrators, we can point 'em out
So if you got something on your mind, let it out

Photo by Ari Marcopoulos, from Pass the Mic: Beastie Boys 1991-1996

Adam Yauch will be undergoing surgery today to remove a cancerous growth. Let's all think about him and send positive, healing vibes his way. Here's some Best of Yauch for y'all to enjoy.

1. Yauch, the prank mastermind [video]
2. Yauch, fashion icon [photo]
   From Oh Snap! The Rap Photography of Ricky Powell
3. If Yauch were a chicken...[mp3] [DEAD LINK]
   From "Gratitude (Live at Budokan)" on Check Your Head (remastered edition)
4. Yauch, the actor who can't keep a straight face [video]
   A scene from A Day in the Life of Nathanial Hörnblowér, directed by Adam Yauch
5. Yauch, martial arts enthusiast [video] [DEAD LINK]

Photo by Ricky Powell, from Oh Snap! The Rap Photography of Ricky Powell

6. Yauch performs "The Update" live for the first time [video] [DEAD LINK]
7. Fun with fruit [photo]
   Photo taken during the Pageant Tour, published at Beastieboys.com
8. Leader of goofy routines: "Bong-bong!" [mp3] [DEAD LINK]
   From Live at Heineken Open'er Festival, June 30, 2007
9. Dad and birthday boy [photo]
10. Yauch as Bill Swenson, the Money Man [video]
    "Money makes you feel good."

11. Yauch, the dog lover [video]
12. Bunny slippers! [photo]
    From the "Body Movin'" video
13. Yauch comments on who Beastie Boys fans are [mp3] [DEAD LINK]
    From an interview with NPR Fresh Air, March 29, 2006
14. Yauch in Oscilloscope Laboratories [photo]
15. Buddhist buddies [photo]
    Yauch and the Dalai Lama

Photo by Ari Marcopoulos, originally published at Beastieboys.com

16. Solo rapper [mp3] [DEAD LINK]
    "Drum Machine," MCA and Burzootie
17. Big-time movie director on the red carpet, with unidentified companions [photo]
18. Emotive actor [photo]
    From the "Ch-Check It Out" video
19. Yauch skateboards inside G-Son [video]
    From Rappin with the Rickster TV show
20. Yauch with his "baby" [photo]
    From Oh Snap! The Rap Photography of Ricky Powell

Photo by Ricky Powell

Photo by Xavier (via Twitpic)

Today is the official release date of the new Beastie Boys single "Too Many Rappers" featuring Nas. An mp3 of the song is available to purchase and download at Amazon and iTunes. You can listen to a full stream of the song HERE.

Yay, nay, or what the hay? Share what you think of the new single in the comments.

Beastie Boys will be delaying the release of their forthcoming album and canceling all their upcoming performance dates due to Adam Yauch having a health issue, which he explains in the above video. On behalf of the fan community, we wish Yauch a speedy recovery and good health.

Several concert dates for the Beastie Boys are now posted at Ticketmaster.com. Treat these dates as rumors until confirmed by an official source.

Sept 19 Santa Barbara Bowl - Santa Barbara, CA (on sale 7/25)
Sept 20 Santa Barbara Bowl - Santa Barbara, CA (on sale 7/25)
Sept 27 Red Rocks - Morrison, CO (on sale 7/18)*
Oct 8 Bayfront Park Amphitheater - Miami, FL

*Listing removed from Ticketmaster.com

It seems that Beastie Boys and Nas have made a video for "Too Many Rappers." The what, where, and when behind the video is a mystery. The above still is from the listing of the "Too Many Rappers" mp3 download at Amazon.

Beastie Boys will be headlining the San Diego Street Scene Festival, which takes place August 28 and 29. Tickets are available Frontgatetickets.com. This festival announcement explains the mysterious booked date of August 29 on Mix Master Mike's schedule.

An update of Mix Master Mike's tour schedule reveals some clues about what the Beastie Boys 2009 tour plans will be. Clearly, the month of September has been reserved for the Beastie Boys tour of North America.

Most interesting is the booking on August 29, the day before the Beastie Boys will play the Outside Lands Festival in San Francisco. A betting person would put money on the Beastie Boys playing a club show in San Francisco or Los Angeles on August 29.

What the band will be doing in October is unknown — perhaps more shows in North America? In November, Beastie Boys will travel to Europe. Adam Horovitz confirmed the European tour plans when the Beastie Boys were doing a press tour in England, Germany, and France recently.

Beastie Boys with Nas at Bonnaroo. Photo by actenille (via Flickr)

According to a music distributor source, the first single from the Beastie Boys new album Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 1 will be "Too Many Rappers," featuring Nas. It will be a limited 12-inch vinyl single, available on July 21 from indie music stores only.

For everyone who missed the Beastie Boys on the Zane Lowe Show, download audio of the show and feel included:

Zane Lowe Show with the Beastie Boys (17 MB zip file)
[EXPIRED LINK]

Thanks to Rodney for supplying the audio!

The Mic to Mic staff are all otherwise engaged today, so I'll make this short and simple.

Hey, ya! Beastie Boys are playing a club show in Chicago on August 6. Crazily, the show is ON SALE NOW. See the official e-newsletter, which I know y'all get, for the purchase code and ticket link.

Remember to tune in to the Zane Lowe show on BBC Radio 1 today at 2 p.m. ET to hear the Beastie Boys play some new songs from Hot Sauce Committee. Zane Lowe tweeted that the band will be playing two new songs. Let's hope it's something other than "B Boys in the Cut" and "Lee Majors Come Again."

Cigar to the first person who sends us an audio rip of the radio show to share with those fans who cannot tune in real-time to hear it!

Also included in the official e-newsletter is the tracklisting for Hot Sauce Committee, which will have a release date of September 15.

1. Tadlock's Glasses
2. B-Boys In The Cut
3. Make Some Noise
4. Nonstop Disco Powerpack
5. OK
6. Too Many Rappers (featuring NAS)
7. Say It
8. The Bill Harper Collection
9. Don't Play No Game That I Can't Win (featuring Santigold)
10. Long Burn The Fire
11. Bundt Cake
12. Funky Donkey
13. Lee Majors Come Again
14. Multilateral Nuclear Disarmament
15. Pop Your Balloon
16. Crazy Ass Shit
17. Here's A Little Something For Ya

According to the Beastie Boys Facebook page, an interview between Triumph the Insult Comic Dog and the Beastie Boys will air on "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" this evening (6/19). We keed not.

Update: Video now available:

Video Transcription

Triumph: It’s the legendary Beastie Boys!

Mike: I know this dog.

Triumph: This is exciting. These are the real original, the first white guys to rap. You know, now there’s a lot of phonies out there trying to do this. But back in the day, it was really just you guys and Will Smith.

Adam H: Right!

Triumph: Seriously, could you possibly look any more like three old Jews? You’re like a living Pep Boys logo.

[Beastie Boys laugh]

Triumph [to Yauch]: I’m seeing a little gray hair on you. You know, you guys have evolved.

Yauch: Hey, what are you going to do?

Triumph: You’ve gone from Check Your Head to Check Your Prostate.

Triumph [rapping]: “Now I’m going to pass the miiiiccc over to yaaaw!”

Mike: You’ve got a future!

Triumph: C’mon, can’t you say, “You’ve got the fuuuturrre”? Is that the waaay you sing?

Adam H: Is that what we really sound like?

Triumph [mocking]: “Is that what we really sound like?”

From Qthemusic.com [DEFUNCT SITE]:

The Beastie Boys are our next act to undergo a grilling from Q readers.

Submit your questions for them to us in the comments ...or tweet them to us @QMagazine, (hash tag #QCash for those who know what that means) and check the next issue of Q Magazine to see which ones they answer...

Money Mark will be doing a free show in Long Beach, California, on June 28. The performance is part of the Downtown Long Beach Summer Music Series. The show will take place at Pine Avenue & Broadway, beginning at 7 p.m.

Beastie Boys perform with Nas at the Bonnaroo Music Festival. Photo by Ryan Murphy.

Setlist*
MMM Intro
Time for Livin' [VIDEO]
Super Disco Breakin'
Sure Shot [VIDEO // ALERNATE VIDEO]
No Sleep Til Brooklyn [VIDEO // ALTERNATE VIDEO]
Shake Your Rump
Gratitude
Sabrosa
Egg Raid on Mojo [VIDEO]
Body Movin'
Pass the Mic [VIDEO]
Root Down
Too Many Rappers (a new song with Nas from the forthcoming Hot Sauce Committee) [VIDEO, Part 1, VIDEO, Part 2 // ALTERNATE VIDEO // AND ANOTHER // AND YET ANOTHER]
Paul Revere [VIDEO // ALTERNATE VIDEO]
Ricky's Theme
Something's Got to Give
Tough Guy
Remote Control
So What'cha Want [VIDEO]
MMM Interlude [VIDEO]
Intergalactic [VIDEO]
3 MCs & 1 DJ
Country Mike / Heart Attack Man
Sabotage [VIDEO // ALTERNATE VIDEO]

Roman Coppola filmed the Beastie Boys set, with Adam Yauch providing direction.

Press

AL.com: Beastie Boys introduce a special guest at Bonnaroo

Spin.com: The Beastie Boys Roar Onstage at Bonnaroo

*Big thanks to Paul B for the real-time setlist information!

This nine-minute video captures the first four songs performed at the show in Asheville, North Carolina.

Setlist
The Biz vs The Nuge
Time for Livin'
Remote Control [VIDEO]
Root Down [VIDEO]
Sure Shot [VIDEO]
Super Disco Breakin'
Posse in Effect [VIDEO]
Shake Your Rump
Gratitude
Electric Worm
Sabrosa
Lee Majors Come Again
Transit Cop
Body Movin'
B Boys in the Cut
Do It (with Biz Markie) [VIDEO]
Pass the Mic
So What'cha Want
Ricky's Theme
POW
Lighten Up
Egg Raid on Mojo
Tough Guy
Benny and the Jets (with a shirtless Biz Markie) [VIDEO // ALTERNATE VIDEO // and ANOTHER]
Mix Master Mike solo [VIDEO]
Intergalactic
3 MC's & 1 DJ [VIDEO]
Country Mike / Heart Attack Man
Mark on the Bus (Not on the setlist. It was a request by Mike D.)
Sabotage [VIDEO // ALTERNATE VIDEO]

There's a video montage with Time for Livin', Remote Control, Root Down, Sure Shot, Body Movin', Posse in Effect, Shake Your Rump, Gratitude, Sabrosa, So What'cha Want, Intergalactic, and Sabotage. Fast-forward to 6:30 to see Adam Horovitz's dance moves.

Photos

Photo by Mic to Mic

Photo by Money Mark

See a photoset of my pics from the Rams Head concert HERE.

Setlist (see earlier post)

Press

Baltimore Sun: Last night's Beastie Boys show at Rams Head Live (review)

Baltimore Sun: Biz Markie: Awesomely bad (review)

Photos

Photoset by Smoorenburg

Photoset by Kicksie

Photo by Ian Rogers

Video

Sabotage

Country Mike sings "Heart Attack Man"

Mike and Yauch tease Mix Master Mike.

Country Mike sings "Heart Attack Man."

Root Down
Skills to Pay the Bills
Sure Shot
Alright Hear This
No Sleep til Brooklyn
Shake Your Rump
Egg Raid on Mojo
Big vs Nuge (with Biz)
Time for Living
Sabrosa
B for My Name
Lee Majors Come Again (sounded exactly like recording)
Remote Control
Body Movin
B Boys in the Cut (MMM provided soul groove beats)
Flute Loop
Pass the Mic
Right Right Now Now
Check It Out
Ricky's Theme
Lighten Up
Off the Grid
Something's Got to Give
Benny & the Jets (Biz singing with Yauch, Mike, & Fredo playing song)
Tough Guy
So Whatcha Want
Heart Attack Man (performed first by Country Mike on acoustic guitar then by the Beastie Boys)
3 MC's & 1 DJ
Intergalactic
Sabotage

Photos & more info to come.

If the soundcheck is any indicator, the show tonight in Baltimore will be a Beastie geek one. I've heard them soundcheck "B for My Name," "Off the Grid," "Lighten Up," "Something's Got to Give," "Sabrosa," and "Electric Worm" — plus some songs that I do not recognize.

Yauch was playing some Black Sabbath too.

Beastie Boys have announced two quickie warm-up shows before they play the Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 12. Tickets for both shows go on sale tomorrow (June 4) at 4 pm ET:

June 9 - Rams Head, Baltimore, MD

June 10 - Orange Peel, Asheville, NC

There is a two ticket limit per show. All tickets are will call and not transferrable.

We told you months ago that Money Mark has a Twitter account. Are you following him? You should be, because the keyboardist knows secrets.

Beastie Boys at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, 1984

You started out as a big fat joke band, right?

Kate Schellenbach: Yeah, a big fat joke band.

Michael Diamond: We still are except now we lost weight, so we're a skinny joke band.

9th Beastie, my Beastiemania.com colleague and pal, recently acquired a 1984 punk fanzine with an interview with the Beastie Boys. The band — then comprised of Adam Yauch, Michael Diamond, Kate Schellenbach, and a young man calling himself Adam O'Keefe — share what they had for breakfast that day, their plans for the future, the names of their favorite clubs, what they got for Christmas (Mike: I got a lot of Mr. T things for Christmas. Mr. T was big under the Christmas tree this year.), and other very important things. This material is what we refer to as "classic Beastie Boys."  

Click to read. Use the "All Sizes" link above the images at Flickr to see larger images.

 

The full episode of "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" with the Beastie Boys interview and performance is available to watch.

So yeah. Beastie Boys are on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" tonight. Crazy me, I decided to try for a standby ticket for the show, which is not something I would recommend any sane person do because it requires enduring a lot of BS. I am happy to report that the "Luck o' the Beastie" was with me. After grueling hours of lines and check-ins at 30 Rockefeller Center, I made it into Studio 6B.

Here's a run-down of the pertinent parts of the show:

• After his monologue, Fallon tells a story about his first Beastie Boys concert and meeting Yauch. It's actually a good story. I won't tell the story. You'll have to listen to Fallon tell it. From his story, Fallon shows that he is as much as a Beastie Boys geek as I am or anyone who reads this site. He later tells the Beastie Boys that they are his favorite band ever.
  
• Beastie Boys enter the studio and mess with the seat cushions. Mike the Communicator, of course, takes the seat closest to Fallon. The Adams are relegated together on a sofa. Horovitz comments on Fallon's nice water cups. Horovitz hassles Fallon about having a laptop on his desk.
  
• Fallon asks them about their new album. Mike responds by telling an elaborate (and false) story about recording multiple new albums on Paul Allen's yacht, as well as a submarine. Heard that one before? Yauch and Horovitz play along with the yacht gag by adding their two bits.
  
• Fallon asks them to reveal the new album's title. Beastie Boys confirm that the album is, as they announced in their fan newsletter sent out earlier today, Hot Sauce Committee. Ta-da! Unfortunately, Fallon loses his concentration and forgets to ask anything more about the new album, except when it will be released. They reply, "In September" with some shtick.
  
• Fallon pulls out the Check Your Head vinyl collector's set and asks about the bonus single. Horovitz points out that he included a special bonus single in Fallon's gift set -- an autographed one of a disco single. They explain that the non-"Lee Majors Come Again/B Boys in the Cut" singles that have been found in some of the CYH collector's set came from their personal collection.
  
• Fallon asks them if they would be willing to perform a song from Check Your Head. The audience screams, and the Beastie Boys oblige with a performance of "So What'cha Want," backed by The Roots.
  
• Beastie Boys exit the stage to The Roots playing "Paul Revere."

The end.

Maybe I forgot a thing or two, but I got up dang early for that standby ticket. Watch the show. It's on at 12:30 or some other time, depending upon where you live.

P.S. David Cook reminds me of that guy from Creed.

P.S.S. Fallon posted a pic of the Beastie Boys rehearsing with The Roots:

Yauch said what?

We listened, we discussed, we disagreed, we agreed, we guessed. Transcribing the lyrics for "Lee Majors Come Again" has been a challenge for the Beastiemania.com team. Take a look at what we came up with HERE at Beastiemania.com. If you have any corrections or suggested changes to the lyrics, email them to staff @ beastiemania.com or post them in the comments.

From Copelandentertainment.com

Mix Master Mike's tour schedule is evidence that Beastie Boys will not be releasing their new album and touring until this fall. August [Update: now confirmed to be September] seems the likely month that fans can expect some new music and tour action. In the meantime, fans will have to be happy with the two new tracks and the announced festival performances, which are sure to be "greatest hits" sets. Beastie Boys have stated in the past that they don't like to play new songs for festival audiences because they're generally not accepted well.

From all accounts we've heard, the new Beastie Boys album is completed and has been completed for some time. A listening session with some label reps happened at the end of January. The report we heard was that "All three sound great—especially Adrock." Another source who has heard some of the album told us that it sounds very Check Your Headish. Chomp on that.

Watch a four-part interview with Adam Horovitz (part 1 above) on "Soft Focus" at VBS.tv.

Video transcription (part 1)

Adam Horovitz: Oh, wow. Hi!

Ian Svenonius: So, now I have this whole theory, and I’m really glad to talk to you because I’ve never told you this theory. But this is the real theory, and I’ve been working on it for a long time: I’ve always seen this eerie parallel between the Beastie Boys—your group—and The Beatles, who are the alpha group. Wait! It’s not so crazy. What do you think about that?

Adam: I was waiting for the, you know, uh—

Ian: Well, number one: Your origins, well, a hardcore band, the start of [unintelligible]. Then Licensed to Ill, kind of a “I Want to Hold your Hand” Beatlemania. You guys were a sensation. A massive sensation.

Adam: Huge.

Ian: Huge. And in England, there was this kind of like sense of like they’re destroying culture. Unlike the way The Beatles were viewed with contempt in America. Or people were scared of them a little bit—the establishment. Then Paul’s Boutique. It’s like a kind of psychedelic excursion. That’s when you became critical darlings. And after that, your records sort of guided more, you know, the intelligentsia. What do you think?

Adam: I think that’s great. [audience laughs] Yeah, I’ll be that. I think that’s great.

Ian: Well, I was wondering if that was a conscientious—like if you conscientiously looked at the trajectory of The Beatles and then—

Adam: Or The Troggs—you know, one of those groups, yeah. Uh, no, we didn’t. We weren’t really looking at anybody. But I like that.

Ian: I mean, it’s weird, I think. I’ve told a lot of people this theory but—

Adam: And what do they say about that?

Ian: Well, I just told these people. [addressing audience] What do you guys think?

[Audience laughs]

Ian: I think it’s pretty good.

Adam: I mean, you could fit a lot of things into a lot of, you know, things—

Ian: You can fit a lot of things into a lot of things, but you can’t say The Troggs are The Beatles, for example.

Adam: No. They got—

Ian: You can’t say, like, I don’t know...

Adam: Shit. I know where you are going though.

Ian: Now, I was wondering about these stylistic changes that have marked your career. And, uh, you begin as a hardcore band.

Adam: Yeah, we started as a hardcore band right in this neighborhood. I guess it started while we were all friends in high school. We all used to go to a record store called the Rat Cage, which was right down the street from here. Kids in the city—that’s what we did. We didn’t go to school, but, you know, so you started a band. Or you know, that’s what everybody was doing. So that’s what we did. I don’t know. We were into punk rock records and hip hop records. And, you know, new wave. And all of that stuff. And I guess the hardcore was what was, you know, the easiest to play. Playing in a hardcore band is like playing like, you know, basketball or something. You’re always moving, and you’re kind of in sync with the other people. And you’re kind of doing this thing. And it’s really fun to play. And it was kind of like the punk rock records that we, you know, listened to. But it was easier in, like, that we would never sound like Blondie. You know what I mean? Or something like that. But luckily for us, I guess, growing up in New York City at that time we were exposed to a lot of creative things happening. And so I guess that sort of led us to go in different directions—musically, I guess.

Ian: Yeah, well, that’s what I was going to ask you. How did you make that transition into hip hop? And sort of, like, how did you even figure out how to make beats, for example?

Adam: Well, the thing about rap music is, you know, rap had already started in New York. So this is the early 80s. And so, rap started coming Downtown. And, you know, you’d hear it from radios and car radios and stuff like that. You know, we were drawn to it. As, you know, I guess most people in the world are drawn to rap music. And, so, we were really into it. It wasn’t a thing of where it was like that was the popular thing so we’re like we should do that because that’s going to sell records.

Ian: Yeah. It was underground music.

Adam: So, I got my first money, and I was going to go to this place called Rogue Music. This was my thing. This is real history. I’m gonna keep it real. And I had 250 bucks, and I was going to buy the black and white Paul Weller Rickenbacker guitar. Right. But I had heard about this drum machine called an 808. Right. I had heard about it. I heard it on a record before. I went to Rogue to buy this thing, but they also had a used 808 drum machine. And so instead of buying a guitar because I already had a guitar, I bought the drum machine.

Ian: Wow.

Adam: So that’s how it started for me.

Ian: So, you brought that element into your group.

Adam: Well, I had the drum machine.

Ian: Yep. Yeah.