Tributes are pouring in for Adam Yauch, one of the founding members of the Beastie Boys, who has died at the age of 47. Yauch, who was known by his stage moniker of MCA, was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, but exact details of his death have been withheld.
An official statement from the band read as follows: "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."
Yauch was absent from the Beastie Boys recent induction to the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame and hadn't performed with the group since a concert in 2009 in which Yauch apppeared visibly withdrawn. His cancer treatments also delayed production on the band's most recent album Hot Sauce Committee, Pt. 2.
Many of Yauch's musical contemporaries have taken to Twitter to praise Yauch's contribution to music. "R I P Adam… I’m devastated. Praying for Adam Yauch’s family from the legendary Beastie Boys. Youll be missed!" said Reverend Run while Justin Timberlake tweeted: "Crushed to hear the news of Adam Yauch’s passing. A true pioneer of art. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones. #RIPMCA"
Yauch is survived by his wife, Dechen Wangdu, and their daughter, Tenzin Losel.
