Beastie Boys Book

By: Michael Diamond, Adam Horovitz

Narrated by: Full Cast

Length: 12 hrs and 42 mins

Publisher's summary

The inspiration for the Spike Jonze 'live documentary' Beastie Boys Story, coming soon to Apple TV+.

Nominated for a Grammy award.

Number one New York Times best seller.

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 "AD-ROCK" 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 almost impossible to fathom overnight success of their debut studio album, Licensed to Ill; that album's messy fallout; and their break with Def Jam, move to Los Angeles and rebirth as musicians and social activists, with the genre-defying masterpiece Paul's Boutique. For more than 20 years, this band has had a wide-ranging and lasting 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 pieces by guest contributors and many more surprises.

Readers:

Steve Buscemi, Ada Calhoun, Bobby Cannavale, Exene Cervenka, Roy Choi, Jarvis Cocker, Elvis Costello, Chuck D, Nadia Dajani, Michael Diamond, Snoop Dogg, Will Ferrell, Crosby Fitzgerald, Randy Gardner, Kim Gordon, Josh Hamilton, Adam Horovitz, LL Cool J, Spike Jonze, Pat Kiernan, Talib Kweli, Dave Macklovitch, Rachel Maddow, Tim Meadows, Bette Midler, Mix Master Mike, NAS, Yoshimi O, Rosie Perez, Amy Poehler, Kelly Reichardt, John C. Reilly, Ian Rogers, Maya Rudolph, Rev Run, Luc Sante, Kate Schellenbach, MC Serch, Chloe Sevigny, Jon Stewart, Ben Stiller, Wanda Sykes, Jeff Tweedy and Philippe Zdar.

Design: Purtill Family Business with Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz

Case photograph: © 1987 Lynn Goldsmith

©2018 Michael Diamond and Adam Horovitz (P)2018 Faber Audio

Genius

Straight genius. No more no less. Best audiobook ever. I mean it. Seriously. Come on.

Sooooo good.

So many different narrator's
Great personal stories
Great insight to the lives of Beastie legends

A story as good as the best crate diggin

Honest, straight up, inventive tale of the three teens who inspired many! Particularly loved the musical playlist that woven through the story.

6 stars

great story telling, loved it throughout and the guest narrators were awesome. really enjoyed the early parts about growing up as a punk in new York

Worst band book I ever read

Not a die hard fan going in, was interested in BB having enjoyed some of there music. This was so disappointing, juvenile humour, nothing of interest really said as everyone was nice to them. Chapters include making a mix tape, many chapters are just song lists, stories are hyped up and seem to have no punch line.

A few interesting chapters on Kate Schellenbach, who seemed to be the only one with any depth. They talk about not selling out, when their claim to fame seems to be lining up a whole lot of celebrities to read their half baked boring stories.

There is even a picture chapter where it goes on about the wigs and moustaches they bought. Maybe someone out there cares.

Had to skip some chapters near the end as it was so repetitive. They congratulate you for reaching the end, saying a golden ticket is deserved. That I do agree with, terrible and probably worst of all boring!!!!