Beastie Boys Member Adam ‘MCA’ Yauch Unable To Attend Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Induction, Sends Statement

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Adam "Adrock" Horovitz, Mike "Mike D" Diamond (photo: Jeff Kravitz/Film Magic)

Beastie Boys member Adam "MCA" Yauch, who was not able to attend the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony Saturday, was still able to convey his acknowledgments via a note read by member Adam "Adrock" Horovitz.

Chuck D, LL Cool J (photo: Kevin Kane/Getty Images)Yauch, who is battling cancer, and his group members did not address his illness during their acceptance speeches. Yauch thanked his family, friends, colleagues and anyone "who has been touched by our band."

Mike 'Mike D' Diamond said that it was at Yauch's parents home in Brooklyn that the trio met after school each day to listen to albums from the Clash, Grandmaster Flash and Run-D.M.C.

Diamond said those experiences inspired their debut, "Licensed To Ill," which he described as "a damn god awful record and I can't believe they let us do it."

Public Enemy frontman Chuck D and LL Cool J praised the group during the induction.

Chuck D said the Beastie Boys, who invited Public Enemy to join them on tour in 1987, had an impact on their stage show. "They made us rethink what we should do on stage," Chuck said.

Chuck D also said the Beasties taught him not to take the easy way out when determining the direction of their sound. Chuck D said the Beasties "insisted on maturity when" when they released their sophomore album, "Paul's Boutique," instead of producing "Licensed To Ill 2.0." "We all learned from them. Make sure we never take the easy way out for the sake of a hit record."

Travie McCoy, Black Thought, Kid Rock (photo: Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

LL Cool J credited the group with helping him land his record deal at Def Jam. "If it wasn't for the Beastie Boys I wouldn't have my career because they actually played my demo for Rick Ruben in the NYU dormitory and that's how I got my break."

LL added that the Beasties also paved the way for other white rappers. "Remember this was before Eminem, and I love Em. Before Vanilla Ice," he said. "The Beasties brought some obnoxious big attitude that rap could appeal to the mainstream. Run-D.M.C. brought rap to the edge of suburbia, Beasties brought it right to the center of the town."

Kid Rock, Black Thought and Travie McCoy, dressed in green Adidas sweat suits, performed Beasties classics including "No Sleep Till Brooklyn." The Roots were the backing band.