Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys dies from cancer at age 47

Published April 06, 2016

Adam Yauch, aka MCA of the Beastie Boys, has died at the age of 47 after a three-year battle with cancer.

"We at Silva Artist Management are deeply saddened to confirm the passing of our friend and client, Adam Yauch," his rep said in a statement. "We ask for your patience and understanding as well as respect for the privacy of Adam’s family."

Flags at the Los Angeles offices of Capitol Records, the Beastie Boys label, were lowered to half staff.

HEALTH: Singer's death puts spotlight on rare cancer.

Yauch founded The Beastie Boys as a hardcore band in 1979 along with Michael "Mike D" Diamond and Adam "Ad Rock" Horovitz.

The Beastie Boys became one of the first rock bands to embrace rap, successfully crossing over with the multi-platinum 'Licensed to Ill' in 1986.

The band, best known for hit singles such as "(You Gotta) Fight for Your Right (To Party!)" and "Sabotage," released seven studio albums and were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April.

Yauch did not attend.

A practicing Buddhist, Yauch was also a Tibetan rights activist, founding the Milarepa Fund and organizing Tibetan Freedom Concerts around the world.

Yauch was diagnosed and treated for a cancerous parotid gland and a lymph node in 2009.

He is survived by his wife Dechen Wangdu and 13-year-old daughter, Tenzin Losel Yauch.

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