The BEASTIE BOYS line up for the debut 1982 mini album 'Polly Wog Stew' comprised of vocalists 'MCA' (real name Adam Yauch) and Mike 'D' (Mike Diamond), guitarist John Berry and drummer Kate Schellenbach. Both Berry and Schellenbach would decamp with the latter would later emerge as part of the all female act LUSCIOUS JACKSON.

1983 had BEASTIE BOYS evolved into the now familiar trio with the addition of King AD Rock (real name Adam Horowitz), previously with YOUNG & THE USELESS.

The band broke onto radio with the single 'Rock Hard'. However, the success of the song soon landed the band in controversy over whether a central AC/DC sample had been authorised.

'Licensed To Ill' became one of Columbia Records fastest ever selling records soon accelerating past the multi platinum mark in America. The album featured fellow Def Jam artist SLAYER guitarist Kerry King on guest guitar solo.

The success of the album resulted in one of Rock musics more bizarre phenomonens with Volkswagon cars becoming a target of fans as they ripped off the famous 'VW' logo on thousands of cars in an attempt to emulate their heroes penchant for using the device as jewellery.

what was unread in the sales statistics was that 'Licensed To Ill' had sold in bulk to the 80's Metal crowd. When BEASTIE BOYS got back to their Hip Hop roots for 1989's 'Paul's Boutique' sales plummeted.

From being purely rappers the members of the band emerged with new found skills on instruments in 1992. The 'Pass The Mic' EP debuted MCA on bass guitar, AD Rock on keyboards and Mike D on drums. The album of the same year 'Check Your Head' was blessed with another welcome Hard Rock alliance when the act teamed up with controversial Motor City wildman TED NUGENT for 'The Biz Vs. The Nuge'.

By 1994 BEASTIE BOYS had come full circle repeating the feat of their 1986 album by getting 'Ill Communication' to the coveted number one spot in America.

The band took the unusual step in 1996 of releasing an album 'The In Sound From Way Out!' made up entirely of remixed instrumental versions of older tracks. A lavish double compilation 'The Sound Of Science' compiled many of the band's rarities including tracks from a discarded Country & Western album.

Mixmaster Mike would guest on the 2002 METHODS OF MAYHEM album, contributing to a radical rework of DAVID BOWIE's 'Fame'.