Beastie Boy Is Ill

@SpyMagician: I saw them live four times last year alone.

They still bring it. Fucking hard.

Argue with that.

@Vivien Smith-Smythe-Smith: Yeah, I hope longevity sticks around for a long time.

Time for a moment of quiet Beastie reflection, from Hello Nasty. A favorite, often overlooked moment of beautiful disquiet from them.

Also: best headline ev-ar. Big Dicked French Existentialists get trumped by White Jewish Kids From Brooklyn every time. Ironically.

Eh, I've already seen them live many times, so this isn't that sad for me.

@mhmhmhm:
Ahh- got it! Little Tavern!

mhmhmhm

Aww, I LOVE them! When they first got famous after "You gotta fight...." I ran into them at the DC equivalent of White Castle (a little help, DC natives???) and they asked me where the cool clubs were. (Their tour bus was outside, but I hadn't noticed!) I told them to try Poseurs- which was where I worked at the time and they said, "Oh no, we don't like Poseurs!" I then suggested a place in Dupont Circle and attempted to direct them there. They were very polite and said, "Oh, we aren't from around here." Lovely guys!!!

mhmhmhm

@Aaron Altman: Kia Kaha!

@Spirit Fingers: You know, they are a key ingredient to the soundtrack of my youth as well, and I didn't hit adolescence until the new millennium. Longetivity FTW (knock wood).

@Xylo: Can I clarify something: Who said this was a conscious decision. Some people just naturally grow out of things. Others don't for various reason. But it's not like the second I turned 30 I just tossed tons of stuff in the trash.

@SpyMagician: Cut it out. Telling someone to stop doing what they love just because they are "post 40" is insane. What are you going to do when you reach "post 40", sit in a rocking chair until you die?

Xylo

@BookishLookish: "Thinking you have to bail on your thing just because you are getting older is just sad." THIS is why I still love you. :))

Xylo

@starryeyedkid: Look, Fugazi doesn't even exist as a functioning band anymore and they are great and they have not officially declared it's over.

Lots of great bands from the 1980s are grappling with age so to ignore that and how it ultimately impacts youth oriented music is really delusional.

You really can't have good memories unless you let the past go and admit things change.

This makes me so sad. I was really looking forward to seeing them at Lollapalooza in a couple of weeks. All the best, MCA

TriedandTrue

@SpyMagician: I'm not even a Beastie Boys fan, but if I went to a show/concert/gig/whatever you want to call it and didn't see anyone over the age of 35, I'd probably leave. To me, seeing someone over that age means the music is not just teeny-bopper crap.

My mom and her BF is going to see Jack's Mannequin and the Fray with me in August. They're 51. My mom nearly pissed herself when I gave her the tickets.

So, no. There is no age limit for shows. And they aren't "kids" shows. They're music shows.

@CaptainFantastic: Their last few albums were non-notable and forced. Falling straight into that "They still got it!" school of old bands releasing new records where the new record is hyped as being "Just like the way they were..." but actually isn't. DItto with REM who I loved in the 1980s but cringe at now. Gotta love those critics who gobble up that "They still got it!" spin.

Also age can't be ignored if you're an act whose live performances are based on a huge physical presence. Sorry, but it's not the same.

Have you seen that film on Anvil? Exactly. At some point you leave at a peak so nobody sees a downturn. That's a class act.

I hope he can beat this and make a full recovery...obviously cancer sucks!!

@BookishLookish: Whatever you say. But who said "bail"? Sorry but it seems you've put entertainers (and very, very good entertainers in their prime) on the level of a deity and if you were there for the Rat Cage years, you're just too old to blindly worship a pop-star of any sort.

Yeah, I'm being judgmental but back when I was in my teens and 20s I never looked at anyone in their 30s/40s at a "kids" show as being appropriate and vowed I'd never be that weird 30/40 year old guy who is stuck in time. Happily I'm not.

Peace out, old school original proto punk!

@SalomeSandwich: The fact that I had to listen to the song. Augh. The voices are awful and make me want to smash my head into the wall repeatedly.

KefkaticFanatic

@SpyMagician: Please tell us exactly why "it's over." You're answer shall not contain any argument based on age alone. (20 points)

Oh God this is so sad!! I love the Beastie Boys. I really do wish him a fast and good recovery.

Its the sweetest thing he did to apologize to the fans for the canceled shows. I just wanted to say nooo! You don't have to apologize! It just shows how considerate he is, for other people.

I really do hope he gets well soon.

Just saw them at Bonnaroo....lost my voice to No Sleep Till Brooklyn.
Get better real quick MCA, get back on the mic soon man.

@DennyCrane: I have tickets on that day for APW as well. Definitely a bummer. Right now on the APW homepage it says "Please sit tight while we make new arrangements"...aka All-Star Beastie Boys Benefitâ„¢! *fingers crossed*

Guy Whitey Corngood

@misslinda: I too have never been, and sorely regret it. That's why I bought Aerosmith tickets for the fall--who knows how many they have left in 'em and I'll be damned if I'm gonna die having never been.

DahlELama

@BookishLookish: Ah, well that explains it then. And what are you talking about, Kef? You can sleepwalk through Sabotage.

Let's just hope MCA can mow down cancer like he mows the lawn.

@girlyQ: Not just July, 2009 in general. This year BLOWS.

onehotmess

Yeah, you might think they're getting old. But I hope MCA gets older. Godspeed Yauch.

ChaunceyReindeer

@DennyCrane: Same here with APW. Hoping for a quick 10 day recovery.

ozu

@Nice Beaver: I get what you're saying, but for me 45 ain't old (spoken like someone well over 30 and 40 is a spit-sneeze away). Cancer on the other hand is terrible, but at least at 45 there's still time for treatment and recovery. He actually has some amount of "youth" if you will, on his side. I wish him luck and a speedy recovery.

Spirit Fingers

Enough already, 2009! Michael Jackson, Walter Cronkite, Natasha Richardson, Frank McCourt -- haven't you had your fill? Please leave our Beastie Boy alone. Get well soon MCA.

DaeSu

@misslinda: Heh. I could use a drink of that funky monkey right now, actually.

MC A is the Lance Armstrong of the rap game. I hope.

@dragonhorse: This.

Screw ACL - get better Adam!

@TheHonJudgeSmails: No, brass.

@SpyMagician: Darling, I saw them at CBs about a dozen times and when Kate was their drummer, and used to hang out with them at Rat Cage Records when you were no doubt scalping your sister's My Pretty Pony. A class act doesn't "know when it's over"; a class act keeps evolving and changing and doing their show and having fun and making money, which is exactly what they are doing. Aging is a fact of life. Thinking you have to bail on your thing just because you are getting older is just sad. I repeat: You lack moral fiber.

@SpyMagician: Or maybe they keep doing it until there are no more fans. Aerosmith and the Stones have to be at least 2,000 years old apiece, but still they tour.

Spirit Fingers

God, this makes me so upset. I hope he gets better ASAP. I love this dude beyond his music because I used to run into him all the time as a kid - he was always so sweet and willing to let me stare at him slackjawed in awe.

truckasaurus is jackie jormp-jomp

@Spirit Fingers: My love of Beastie Boys doesn't make me feel old. MCA's age and cancer do.

Given the circumstances, it sounds like a good prognosis and very treatable! good luck and take care of yourself!

@SleeplessNights: Alls I am saying is I was there from the beginning. I know how good they can be. But a class act knows when it's over.

@BookishLookish: I have seen them live 10+ years back and they put on an amazing show. Saying it's the same now is a tad in denial.

Hope he does well, but cut off the touring for everyone's sake.

i didn't believe any of this "it's the apocalypse!" stuff until now. the beastie boys are the best.

milominderbinder

I sure hope he beats this. Amazingly, I have never seen the Beasties play live. When he gets better, I swear I will go to the next show they play in the tri-state area. Yes, I will even go to New Jersey if I have to. Life is so fleeting...be well MCA!

I was about to see them at All Points West. But I'd rather see MCA get well. Godspeed

@SpyMagician:

Whaaa? Liscence to ill is a gret party record, but their other stuff was much better. In retrospect their act seems dated, but that is because so many have imitated.

And he APOLOGIZES to his fans for shows he must cancel because of CANCER?

Bravery, humility, loyalty, class. I'm proud to love these guys.

dragonhorse

@Nice Beaver: Things that perhaps make me feel old:

1) Tape
2) Cutlass Supreme
3) 1984

Love of Beastie Boys does not. It means I’m a rap connoisseur, and we age divinely.

Spirit Fingers

Fuck you, cancer. Go play with Kim-Jong Il and leave my beloved MCA alone. Adam, I know you're a Buddhist now, but Refuah Shleimah, buddy. Oh, you know what it means.

DahlELama

@amiableamy: I saw them a couple of weeks ago in Baltimore, and that's what I thought at first. They've still got it though, the show was amazing. Best wishes to Adam and his family.

mishmisha

@Mount_Prion: Steel testicles.

Get well soon. Hopefully this was caught early. All the best.

Paul.B.Dodd

@Spirit Fingers: Youth soundtrack indeed. I wore out my Check Your Head tape by playing it about 6,000 times in the stereo of my 1984 Cutlass Supreme. This news is terrible because I'm self-centered and it makes me feel old.

Get well, Adam. Getting past life threatening episodes like this make one appreciate life even more.

Mutley

@KefkaticFanatic: Guitar Hero makes your penis shrink. Put it down right now.

@SpyMagician: Licensed to Ill was kitchy. The later stuff is great.

bboston88

@SpyMagician: Also: You lack moral fiber.

@SpyMagician: You have never seen them live.

Dear cancer:
You know, July has had enough tragedy, so if you would kindly knock it the hell off and leave this man alone, I'd be eternally grateful.

Get better Adam!

If there's anyone who can Sabatoge cancer, it's MCA. Fight for your right, man!

Yahtzii

Fuck, they're old. So depressing.

But yeah, I hope he gets better. That really is sad.

amiableamy

NOOOOOOOOOO!!!

All my prayers and wishes to you Adam. Get well, please.

@SpyMagician: Pffftttt!

Spirit Fingers

Cancer is never good, but I have to say that having to play through one of their songs in Guitar Hero did nothing but enrage me and make me want to smash them in the face with my plastic guitar.

KefkaticFanatic

Oh, geez. Well that's just horrible. Very sorry to hear that. The Beastie Boys are part of my youth soundtrack. That sucks. Hope he's able to recover and continue doing what he loves, because despite their age, they still have fans. Hip-hop pioneers they are.

Spirit Fingers

Prayers for you, MCA.

MC A gets so many props for bravery, holy shit. To be looking directly at cancer growing in you and to laughingly say that at least it isn't in a place that effects your voice...I could never be that brave. Homeboy isn't about to let cancer fuck with his career.

Can't you just tell what a sweetheart he is? Feel better, Adam. Pulling for you.

Pretty bad, and hope he does well. But man can I say this: They shouldn't be touring at all since they're just too old to do this stuff without folks cringing.

I owned the "Licensed to Ill" as a gatefold back in 1980s. Love the guys. But it's just embarrassing to see them pull the same schtick past 40.

@TheHonJudgeSmails: Amen. Fuck, this is terrible.

That is really awful news. Here's hoping for a quick and complete recovery, MC Adam.

@dragonhorse: That shit right there.

Best live act I've ever seen, and I know there's plenty more in the tank. Holla, MCA, get better.

Best live act I've ever seen, and I know there's plenty more in the tank. Holla, MCA, get better.

@Moff: As long as it isn't usurped by that upstart Brevity, that is!