Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys loses battle with cancer

Adam Yauch, one of the co-founders of the hip-hop group The Beastie Boys passed away on Saturday 4 May. Yauch was diagnosed with cancer in 2009 after a minor tumour was discovered in his salivary gland. “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,” reads an official statement from the Beastie Boys. Yauch was 47 years old.

Most people who were born during the late 70’s would have been lucky enough to witness the rise of The Beastie Boys. Their debut album, Licensed to Ill, was released in 1986, and featured their fourth and probably most popular single “(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (to Party!)”.  On the day of his passing, Coldplay did a tribute to Yauch by delivering a cover of this hit.

Check out the video of Coldplay’s cover below.