Let’s just say things could have been very different had they gone with it
Set to release their much anticipated memoir later this month, surviving Beastie Boys members Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz and Mike “Mike D” Diamond, lived a pretty eventful life, alongside late member Adam “MCA” Yauch – and that’s putting it lightly.
Simply titled Beastie Boys Book, it tells the story of the iconic Hip Hop trio, who when they formed in 1981 started out as a New York City hardcore band. The book that spans nearly 600 pages features contributions from the likes of Wes Anderson, Spike Jonze, Amy Poehler, Colson Whitehead, Luc Sante and more.
Leaving no stone unturned, as you’d expect it gets into some pretty controversial topics, much to the credit of Ad-Rock and Mike D who don’t shy away from even the most embarrassing lowlights of the band’s career.
With some of the excerpts leaking ahead of its release, revelations include the band’s decision to fire their first drummer Kate Schellenbach for being a girl; the truly awful original title to Licensed to Ill; and why they’re still spending money to store a giant hydraulic penis.
Beastie Boys fired their first drummer, Kate Schellenbach, for being a girl:
“We kicked Kate out of the band because she didn’t fit into our new tough-rapper-guy identity. Maybe Kate would’ve eventually quit the band because we were starting to act like a bunch of fuckin’ creeps, but it was just shitty the way it happened. And I am so sorry about it.”
Before Licensed to Ill, Beastie Boys’ first album had a truly horrific working title:
“The original title to this record was Don’t Be a Faggot. It was Rick Rubin’s idea. It was meant to be a joke about jock frat dudes but homophobia’s not funny and we are truly sorry.”
The group are still paying to store a giant hydraulic penis from their early stage show:
“Seemed funny at the time…[But] you gotta really think before you say or do some dumb shit…Think about the people you care about most. Will they be embarrassed for you, and of you? Yes… And you’ll end up paying thirty years’ worth of storage locker fees in New Jersey for a 5-foot-by-5-foot dick in a box.”
Aside from the personal anecdotes from Ad-Rock and Mike D, Beastie Boys Book contains rare photos, original illustrations, a cookbook from chef Roy Choi, a graphic novel, a map of Beastie Boys’ New York, and mixtape playlists.
Published through Faber & Faber, Beastie Boys Book by Michael Diamond and Adam Horowitz arrives October 30th 2018. Pre-order it here.
To celebrate the release of their new book, the Beastie Boys have announced that they will embark on a six-night, four-city Beastie Boys Book: Live & Direct event tour, including a London date.
Dates for the Beastie Boys Book: Live & Direct tour are as follows:
29th Oct, New York – Town Hall (Tickets)
30th Oct, Brooklyn – Kings Theatre (Tickets)
3rd Nov, Los Angeles – Montalban Theatre (Tickets)
4th Nov, Los Angeles – Montalban Theatre (Tickets)
5th Nov, San Francisco – City Arts & Lectures at Nourse Theater (Tickets)
30th Nov, London – EartH (Tickets)
1st Dec, London – Waterstones Piccadilly (Tickets)
