Adam Yauch of Beastie Boys Has Cancer; Album And Tour On Hold

The Beastie Boys have canceled all upcoming tour dates and pushed back the release date for their new album, Hot Sauce Committee Part I, due to group member Adam Yauch’s diagnosis last week of a cancerous tumor in his left parotid (salivary) gland.

Watch Yauch’s video statement below.

“Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch of Beastie Boys was diagnosed last week as having a cancerous tumor in his left parotid [salivary] gland,” reads the official press release from EMI Music.

“Luckily it was caught early and is localized in one area, and as such is considered very treatable. It will however require surgery and several weeks of additional treatment. Fortunately the cancer is not in a location that will affect Yauch’s vocal chords.”

The Beastie Boys have canceled all upcoming concert appearances to allow time for Yauch’s surgery and recovery.

This means the trio’s appearances at Chicago’s Lollapalooza and San Francisco’s Outside Lands, as well as their Hollywood Bowl debut scheduled for Sept. 24, will be canceled.

Yauch had originally announced his cancer diagnosis in a video posted on YouTube.

“About two months ago I started feeling this little lump in my throat, like you would feel if you had swollen glands or something like that, like if you feel like you had a cold,” says Yauch.

Yauch closed his message on an upbeat note.

“The good news is that it’s only localised in this one area, and it’s not in a place that effects my voice… so it’s a pain in the ass and a setback, but it’s treatable in most cases.”

As stated before, Yauch’s illness will delay the release of the band’s next album, Hot Sauce Committee Part 1.

The first new song from that album, “Too Many Rappers,” will be released digitally Tuesday.

Yauch is expected to make a full recovery.

Get well soon MCA.