John Berry, a founding member of The Beastie Boys, passed away yesterday [Thursday, May 19]. . Berry was credited with coming up with the platinum-selling group’s name.
He was also the guitarist, and founded the group along with Michael “Mike D” Diamond, Adam “MCA” Yauch and Kate Schellenbach. Berry left shortly after the group came together, and was replaced by Adam “Ad-Rock” Horovitz. Adam Yauch passed away at the age of 47, in 2012, from cancer.
Berry suffered from frontal lobe dementia and his health had been deteriorating over the past few years, according to his stepmother, Louise Berry, who spoke with the Associated Press.
Watch below as his bandmates paid tribute to him at their introduction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Respect: Rolling Stone
