LTI, Ricky Powell and Historical Revisionism

[acamus]

I have to agree with Rickey Powell (as he was close enough to them to have the insight) and Camille Paglia (who didn't address the boys per se, but the mood of political correctness); the Beastie Boys it would seem, like many men who go through Yale, got their balls chopped off and preserved in jar by their wives and girlfriends. Yeah, of course we all evolve as we grow and that's as it should be. I love what these guys have done from the beginning -- that includes LTI and, yes, Fight for Your Right to Party. It dropped the summer before my freshman year of High School and that song meant a lot to me. Growing up in a den of hypocritical lions -- sheltered, abused mentally and physically -- having a funny anti-parent song in part saved me from insanity. Being sequestered from most contact with other people let alone kids my age, songs like this made me feel justified and not alone. I snuck the album with me on my trip to an ultra-strict, ultra-conservative boarding school. Like Mr. Rogers reminded me recently, when you're a prisoner, television and record personalities can become you only family. As far as I was concerned these three guys were the older brothers, friends and liberators I'd always wished for. I know from ya'lls perspective (it sounds like you had loving families growing up) you were parodying Camaro rock and now feel embarassed by what Yauch recently said was a "corny" record, but I found comfort and encouragement in that song that I wasn't getting anywhere else. Mr. Rogers told me it was alright to stack empty milk cartons and knock them down when I was feeling angry, Beastie Boys told me (atleast my interpretation at the time) that it was alright to stand up to the hypocracy and abuse that my parents were dishing out -- both were spiritual guides. Guys, like Dahl, many kids needed someone to assure them that their powerlessness against parents was surmountable.

[dave790]

you touched upon the beasties maybe frowning upon those fight for your right days. yeah they've evolved, apologised ect, but they realise that was an important time for the band and theres lots of people who realise the importance and the sheer coolness of having a record like LTI out at the time...although I wasn't born the so hmmmm...

Don't think they despise that era or even that song, they know it represents an important part of their history, the boys just don't think Fight For Your Right really represents to them what that era was about.

dave

[FearandLoathing]

The Beasties have stated they are not embarrassed by- or at least, all of- the record. But anyway, their changing views don't necessarily signify political correctness. Maybe they themselves have simply changed, and it's not some outside influence that has convinced them to. Is it devastatingly hard to believe that people can form opinions all by themselves?

It's nice that Fight For Your Right is the highlight of your existence and all, but perhaps it's not a case of their clearing out what they've done in the past but evolving. I don't get this whole thing; why is it so terrifyingly fucking awful that the Beasties don't act like they did in 1986?

[cj hood]

even if you take out all the PI shit from LTI, it's still an excellent record.....pure hiphop!

[Documad]

But anyway, their changing views don't necessarily signify political correctness. Maybe they themselves have simply changed, and it's not some outside influence that has convinced them to. Is it devastatingly hard to believe that people can form opinions all by themselves?
Yeah, I've never gotten the feeling that they're faking it. I've changed a bit since the mid 80s myself. :)

Besides, I think I heard them do 6 songs off LTI on the current tour, so they're not exactly hiding from the past.