Beastie Boys founding member John Berry dies at 52

Rappler.com

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Beastie Boys founding member John Berry dies at 52
The Beastie Boys' original guitarist and founder, who is also credited for coining the band name, dies at the age of 52

MANILA, Philippines – John Berry, a founding member of rap-rock band Beastie Boys, has died at a hospice on Thursday morning, May 19 (Friday, May 20 in Manila). He was 52.

His father, John Berry III, confirmed the death to Rolling Stone. According to him, Berry suffered from frontal lobe dementia and took a turn for the worse in recent months.

According to Variety, the Beastie Boys were originally called The Young Aborigines and formed in 1978, when Berry and Diamond were joined by Kate Schellenbach and the late Adam “MCA” Yauch.

Berry is said to have coined the Beastie Boys name as a teenager, and was schoolmates with Michael “Mike D” Diamond.

 

Rolling Stone narrated that the band’s first shows happened at Berry’s old residence in Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

They only switched their name to in 1981, and Berry was able to play on the band’s first EP, Polly Wog Stew, recorded in 1982 – the year that he also left the group. Schellenbach also departed the band in 1983, and then Adam “Ad-Rock” Horowitz replaced the two members.

According to Entertainment Weekly, the former Beastie Boys guitarist went on to join several other bands including Thwig, Big Fat Love, and Bourbon Deluxe.

Alternative rock band Luscious Jackson, which Schellenbach now plays drums for, posted a tribute on their Facebook page, saying: “He was a good friend and rabble rouser and if it wasn’t for him, there’d be no Beasties, no Luscious Jackson, no Grand Royal and god knows what else. John brought us all together in his crazy wooden house on the [Upper West Side]…Rest In [Peace], friend.”

 

– Rappler.com

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