John Berry, an original member of the Beastie Boys, has passed away at age 52.
John’s father confirmed his death to Rolling Stone. Berry had frontal lobe dementia. This is a form of dementia that presents itself earlier in life than Alzheimer’s.
The Beastie Boys are an American rap group best know for (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party) and Sabotage. John Berry is credited with thinking of the band name. The band consisted of vocals and drums by Michael Diamond, vocals and guitar by Adam Horovitz, and vocals and bass by Adam Yauch. The Beastie Boys were active from 1980 to 2012. The band disbanded in 2012 and in 2014 Mike released a statement that they were no longer going to perform under the name The Beastie Boys out of respect to Adam Yauch.
Berry left the band shortly after the release of their EP “Polly Wog Stew” in 1982. Despite leaving the band two years after the formation, Mike and Adam mentioned him in their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction speech in 2012.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to John’s family at this time.