Beastie Boys Book

by Michael Diamond

Hardcover, 2018

Status

Available

Call number

ML421.B39 M53

Publication

Random House (2018), Edition: Illustrated, 590 pages

Description

Formed as a New York City hardcore band in 1981, Beastie Boys struck an unlikely path to global hip hop superstardom. Here is their story, told for the first time in the words of the band. Adam "ADROCK" Horovitz and Michael "Mike D" Diamond offer revealing and very funny accounts of their transition from teenage punks to budding rappers; their early collaboration with Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin; the debut album that became the first hip hop record ever to hit #1, Licensed to Ill--and the album's messy fallout as the band broke with Def Jam; their move to Los Angeles and rebirth with the genre-defying masterpiece Paul's Boutique; their evolution as musicians and social activists over the course of the classic albums Check Your Head, Ill Communication, and Hello Nasty and the Tibetan Freedom Concert benefits conceived by the late Adam "MCA" Yauch; and more. For more than thirty years, this band has had an inescapable and indelible influence on popular culture. With a style as distinctive and eclectic as a Beastie Boys album, Beastie Boys Book upends the typical music memoir. Alongside the band narrative you will find rare photos, original illustrations, a cookbook by chef Roy Choi, a graphic novel, a map of Beastie Boys' New York, mixtape playlists, pieces by guest contributors, and many more surprises.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member booklover3258
I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. It was hilarious and very interesting. It brought back memories for me from 80's NYC... ahhh the good old days! My absolute favorite section in there was Cookie Puss! The fact that you had a lot of people talk about the cake like he was a real
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person... just classic! I loved that Mike and Adam switched back and forth as well as made side notes throughout the book. It was great how they explained each song they created and hello a graphic story inside the book! Be still my beating heart! All in all a great read and a must for any fan of the Beastie Boys.
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LibraryThing member over.the.edge
Beastie Boys Book
by Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz
2018
Spiegel & Grau
4.0 / 5.0

Why I'm not a Beastie Boy fan needs no explaining.
These boys have grown up and look back with humor and share all their fun times and pranks. Still not a fan. Never will be.
What attracted me to this book is the
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formatting.... and the NYC street scene in the 80s, and their song/ tape/ music lists.
Back in the 80s we made tapes....it was what you did to save music. These guys have worked with some awesome people, listen to all kinds of music and for me, that's the Beastie Boys. Dj at heart. The history of this street scene, stores and places to eat...the music, clubs, artists of that time and place is really done well. Really fun to read. The formatting includes many full page pics....glossies....a mini cookbook of their fave recipes....and more. It really is a true representation of the band. I think it is a cool book and will be enjoyed by fans, followers and anyone interested in the scene at that time.
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LibraryThing member ThomasPluck
Must read for even casual fans. Great history of rap to hip-hop in NYC and how three young men atoned for riding the douche train to initial stardom.
LibraryThing member toddtyrtle
Really fun read. I have memories of hanging out with friends for a season, summer, or grade in school and everything is amazing. You all have so much fun together doing ridiculous things and living like siblings. Reading this felt like being a fly on the wall for a lifetime spent like this among
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three friends. Yes, they were famous and that informed some of the stories - but the interesting part wasn't that they were famous - it was capturing that friend-meets-family dynamic.

One of those books you're sad is over because now you can't experience it again.
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Awards

Audie Award (Finalist — Audiobook of the Year — 2019)

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2018-10-30

Physical description

590 p.; 9.63 inches

ISBN

0812995546 / 9780812995541
Page: 0.7704 seconds