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FLASHBACK: Beastie Boys

8 May 2012 | 4:30 pm | Staff Writer

Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys fame may have passed away, but with musical tributes cropping up everywhere, he won't be forgotten any time soon.

If aliens began to intercept the popular news right now, I imagine they'd be a little confused. "MCA? BEASTIE BOYS? Fighting for your right to party? What are these terms? Is partying some kind of politically repressed subversive activity?Of course, the chances of any of that actually happening are ridiculously slim and I'm really just being a bit facetious, but all these mentions of MCA can get a little bit confusing for some people. Special mention to the guy I overheard the other day asking confusedly if something had happened to the Museum of Contemporary Art (also known as the MCA) and wondering why everyone was talking about it so despondently since the museum seemed completely fine. So for anyone who doesn't watch or listen to the news: ADAM 'MCA' YAUCH, founding member of the BEASTIE BOYS, passed away on Friday after a long battle with cancer. It's sad news for anyone who was ever inspired by the prominent musician, but the thing about the music industry is that when someone dies, it doesn't just mourn. It creates tributes. Oh so many tributes.

COLDPLAY did a slow, resonant cover of 'Fight For Your Right To Party'. It sounds lovely musically, but I've got to be honest, if I listen to the lyrics, I crack up because it is just a bit ridiculous when the lines "Your mom threw away your best porno mag" are sung like a funeral song. Seriously, COLDPLAY? Bad choice of song - especially as the band meant it to be a parody, and got so peeved off about people taking it seriously that they have refused to play it live since 1987 (yeah, to all of you who've been using that song as your anthem: ADAM YAUCH has disapproved all this time).

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SIR PSYCHO SEXY performed a cover of So What'Cha Want, which is infinitely less funereal.

If you went out this weekend you probably also noticed some BEASTIE BOYS remixes playing in clubs. I know I did. Again, and again. And again.

DJ Shortkut

And a quick Youtube will bring you back oodles of Beastie Boy tributes from everyday people, all over the internet.

The other thing that the music industry does when one of its legends dies is flood every blog, radio station, music show and shop with their songs. We decided not to overload you with BEASTIE BOYS news and music and instead thought we'd just give you a quick little FLASHBACK to some of their best videos.

RIP ADAM YAUCH. You didn't inspire me to become a musician, but you did inspire so much of the music I love, and for that I am truly grateful.