© Danny Clinch, 1998, Beastie Boys, Los Angeles

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. He was 47 years old. (source)

Mr. Yauch, thank you so much for everything you have done to make this world a better place, I appreciate it a lot. May your soul rest in peace.

About the photo:
Left to right: Adam Yauch (MCA), Adam Horovitz (King Ad-Rock), Mike Diamond (Mike D)

Los Angeles, 1998: I was in L.A., and the Beastie Boys were playing there, and I called to ask if I could go to the show. And their manager said, “Yeah — as a matter of fact, could you spend a little time with them before the show and maybe shoot some pictures?” And I shoot with a lot of different cameras, so I have a whole pile of cameras sitting behind me. So [Adam] Yauch said, “Lemme see that Hasselblad.” I thought he was just gonna check it out, and he turned it on me. I should run the one he took of me and this one. (Danny Clinch)

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