Music fans around the world are mourning the loss of Adam Yauch, the groundbreaking member of the Beastie Boys who died Friday after a battle with cancer. Two iconic musicians whose careers intersected Yaucht’s are also mourning him, and took time to pay tribute the Beastie Boys’ MCA.
Madonna, whom the Beastie Boys supported on her 1985 Virgin Tour of North America, praised Yauch’s contribution to popular music.
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“The Beastie Boys were one of a kind! And so was Adam! They were all an important part of my musical history and integral to the musical revolution that was happening at the time,” Madonna said in a statement. “I’m very sad to hear about Adam’s passing. God bless him and his family.”
Public Enemy’s Chuck D was on a flight from Los Angeles to Sydney, Australia when the news broke. He took to Twitter to note the important relationship between the Beastie Boys and Public Enemy.
“Adam and the Boys put us on our first tour 25 years and 79 tours ago,” he tweeted Friday.
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The rapper later released a statement, writing: “They [the Beastie Boys] were essential to our beginning, middle and today. Adam especially was unbelievable in our support from then ’til now, even allowing me to induct them into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I consider myself a strong man and my father says be prepared to lose many in your post-50 path of life. Still, I’m a bit teary-eyed leaving this plane.”
Chuck D inducted the Beastie Boys into the Rock and Roll Hall of fame last month. The ceremony, and a brief tribute to Yauch, will air 9 p.m. ET Saturday on HBO.
