Today is a sorrowful day for many as we learn that Adam “MCA” Yauch, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2009, lost that battle (although most of the press is stating that his death is not yet confirmed to be cancer related). As one who influenced my generation, and those before and after me, I revert my emotions to gratitude for the music and impression he made on this world to help from feeling angry about yet another loss caused by this insidious, heartless disease.
Now listening to The Mix Up (2007) a departure from the Beastie Boys ‘ brand of hip-hop, only solidifies the creativity of MCA and his companions, Mike “Mike D” Diamond and Adam “Ad-Rock” Horowitz, which expanded beyond not only the making of hip-hop, but the making of music in general.
His talent behind the camera in the making of Beastie Boys videos under the pseudonym Nathanial Hörnblowér, eventually led to the founding of Oscilloscope Laboratories, which has released numerous indie films such as “We Need To Talk About Kevin,” “Bellflower,” “Wuthering Heights,” and “Exit Through the Gift Shop.”
[2007 Beastie Boys interview on the Charlie Rose Show upon the release of The Mix Up]
For fans of MCA, it’s no surprise that the Hörnblowér bio would contain a line like this, “With all the attention and unlimited access to film making equipment, he went balls out in an attempt to revolutionize the very concept of filmmaking. He would scream at the reels of film saying that his emotions would be transferred into the film. He would pee on the film and dance around the projector while it was showing his movies. Needless to say, things didn’t really pan out.”
Hilarious.
As we know, Yauch had a highly compassionate and serious side, as evidence in the work he did within the Free Tibet movement and with the highly influential Tibetan Freedom Concerts that brought worldwide awareness to the struggles of the Tibetan people.
He is survived by his wife and Tibetan American activist Dechen Wangdu, with whom he had a daughter, Tenzin Losel Yauch.
Thanks for the music, the laughs and the awareness Adam. Peace be with you. Long live MCA.
