Pre-TT5B BeastieBoys.com interview with Yauch

[minton]

This interview was a Q&A with Yauch and the members of the message board, first posted in February 2004.

Do you guys ever listen to fan remixes? Would you encourage them by putting acapella's on you new album or b-sides?

I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR SOME. MAYBE WE CAN DEDICATE A PART OF THE B-BOYS SITE TO IT. WE COULD POST A BUNCH OF A CAPELLAS AND PEOPLE COULD POST RE-MIXES.

Yauch, is this next record the Beastie Boys' swan song?

AS THEY USED TO SAY AT BROOKLYN FRIENDS, “I DOUBT IT, I DOUBT IT, I DOUBT IT……… “ (SAY THAT REALLY FAST LIKE YOU HAVE MARBLES IN YOUR MOUTH TO GET THE FULL BFS EFFECT)

Who's going to be directing the videos for the new album?

WE SHALL SEE. BUT MY UNCLE IS SHARPENING UP HIS LENSES.

Was there a defining moment (the insane success of LTI aside) when you realised that the Beastie Boys were going to actually get somewhere and be there in musical history?

WHEN MIKE STARTED SINGING ON “SOME DUMB COP GAVE ME 2 TICKETS ALREADY”

Was there a moment when you thought otherwise - that you guys were over?

WHEN MIKE STARTED SINGING ON “SOME DUMB COP GAVE ME 2 TICKETS ALREADY”

Personally, what is your favourite song that the Beasties have done?

“SOME DUMB COP GAVE ME 2 TICKETS ALREADY”

Does the 'Aquatic Session' really exist?

“SOME DUMB COP GAVE ME 2 TICKETS ALREADY”

The last shows you guys did were all without playing your instruments. Will you guys be picking up your instruments again on the next tour?

FOR NOW I THINK WE ARE JUST GOING TO DO HIP HOP SHOWS, TURNTABLES AND MICS… IT’S KIND OF NICE TO KEEP IT SIMPLE FOR A MINUTE. BUT I AM SURE THAT WE WILL GET BACK INTO PLAYING INSTRUMENTS AGAIN IN THE NEAR FUTURE…….

Is there any chance there will be some new hardcore material coming out?

NOT NOW, BUT SOME TIME, SURE……

How do you like the new look Knicks? Personally I think Isiah Thomas has done a great job revamping the team but trading Van Horn for Tim Thomas was overkill.

HOW ABOUT THOSE BROOKLYN NETS?

What kind of music do you listen to right now?

“SOME DUMB COP GAVE ME 2 TICKETS ALREADY” YOU KNOW LIKE “THA THUM, THA THUM THM, THA THA THA THA-THUM……..”

I was wondering what do you think the fate of the Beastie Boys would have been if you stayed at Def Jam? Would you have continued to do songs like Desperado and Licensed To Ill type sounds? Or would you of eventually gone back to Hardcore and experimented like you did on your other records?

HMM, NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT THAT WAY BEFORE. ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE HAD TO LEAVE DEF JAM WAS THAT WE WANTED TO WORK ON OUR OWN MORE, AND THEY WANTED US TO KEEP ON DOING THE SAME THING WITH THE SAME PEOPLE. THEY DIDN’T PAY US IN ORDER TO TRY TO FORCE US TO DO MORE OF THE SAME. THAT’S HOW WE ENDED UP LEAVING DEF JAM.

What is your favourite Beastie Boys album? And why?

I DON’T’ REALLY HAVE A FAVORITE.

Do you play any bass on the new album? I really like your work on the past albums.

THANKS. NOT MUCH ON THIS ONE. THERE ARE SOME LIVE INSTRUMENTS HERE AND THERE BUT MOST OF IT IS PROGRAMMED.

Who are your favorite bass players?

FAMILY MAN, JAMIE JAMERSON, DARYL JENNIFER… I DON’T KNOW.

Is Adam H. doing ok? We haven’t heard anything about him in a while.

HE’S GOOD. UP TO HIS OLD TRICKS. WALKING FREDDY, DRIVING THE LANE FOR THE SCOOP……..

How did you get the chicken to sing in Stand Together?

BRIBED IT WITH CHOCOLATE COVERED CHICKEN FEED.

Along with wondering about hardcore on the new record, any truth you're producing the new Bad Brains record?

YES. THEY RECORDED IT AT MY STUDIO. MIXED PART OF IT ALREADY. NOW I NEED TO GET DOC TO PLAY SOME GUITAR SOLOS ON SOME STUFF AND THEN FINISH MIXING IT. SO IT’S KIND OF CIRCLING ABOVE THE AIRPORT RIGHT NOW……….

How did you guys feel in the early nineties when sampling laws began to come in effect after Paul's Boutique came out? Did this influence your refocus to live instrumentation on Check Your Head?

I THINK THAT WE WERE HEADING THAT WAY ANYWAY. WE GOT INSPIRED TO PLAY BY LISTENING TO A LOT OF INSTRUMENTAL RECORDS WHILE WE WERE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO SAMPLE WHEN WE WORKING ON PAUL’S BOUTIQUE. BUT YEAH, I GUESS THE HECTIC SAMPLING LAWS ARE A BIT OF A DETERRENT FROM SAMPLING, SO SOMETIMES IT’S EASIER TO JUST MAKE UP SOMETHING NEW.

Rumor says that you are producing the upcoming album. Is this true, and if so, what prompted you to do so?

YEAH WE ARE DOING IT OURSELVES. JUST STARTED WORKING ON IT LIKE THAT AND KEPT ON GOING. NOT TOO MUCH FORE THOUGHT ON THAT…………

Is there a Hey Ladies movie? A while back someone from the message board claimed to have bought a copy of it back in 89sh. She even posted an elaborate script from the movie too.

NOT THAT I KNOW OF.

Will you (Adam Y) ever sing 'I Don't Know' or 'Twenty Questions' live?

I DON’T KNOW. (NO PUN INTENDED)

A lot of remixes have been made...why not a remix album?

I LIKE THAT IDEA.

Is it true that Money Mark is not collaborating on the album?

YEAH, FOR THE MOST PART IN THE PAST WE COLLABORATED WITH MARK ON THE PLAYING SONGS, AND SINCE WE HAVE JUST BEEN MAKING HIP HOP LATELY WE HAVEN’T HOOKED UP WITH HIM. I’M SURE WE’LL WORK TOGETHER IN THE FUTURE THOUGH. I LOVE PLAYING WITH MARK.

What is a good starter book to get into Buddhism?

I DON’T KNOW. I LIKE READING THE DALAI LAMA’S BOOKS. BUT I WOULDN’T RECOMMEND JUMPING IN TOO DEEP. IF YOU ARE CURIOUS WHAT IT IS ABOUT THEN TAKE A LOOK. I GUESS IT’S GOOD TO KNOW A LITTLE ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS. BUT I DON’T THINK THAT BUDDHISM IS FOR EVERYONE. DIFFERENT STROKES…….

DON’T GET ME WRONG, BUDDHISM MAKES A LOT OF SENSE TO ME, I AM NOT TRYING TO DOWNPLAY THE VALIDITY OR IMPORTANCE OF IT, BUT I JUST GET UNCOMFORTABLE WHEN PEOPLE START ACTING LIKE THEIR RELIGION OR WAY OF LOOKING AT THE WORLD IS THE BEST WAY, OR THE ONLY WAY, AND THEY START PUSHING IT ON PEOPLE. EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT SO SOME THINGS ARE BETTER FOR SOME PEOPLE.

BUT IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO READ, MAYBE “HEALING ANGER”. I KNOW, IT IS A CORNY TITLE, SHOULD HAVE PROBABLY BEEN CALLED SOMETHING MORE LIKE “PATIENCE…” BUT IN ANY CASE IT’S A GOOD BOOK.

The Anthology DVD is one of the best produced Music DVDs around, and makes perfect use of all the capabilities of the technology, that being said...Are there any plans for a live DVD release for an upcoming tour, should one be taking place?

THANKS, THAT WOULD BE COOL. NO PLANS FOR A NEW DVD THOUGH.

Is it true you are not working with Mario C on this album?

YEAH, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, WE JUST KIND OF STARTED DOING PRE-PRODUCTION ON OUR OWN AND THEN JUST KEPT GOING THAT WAY. MARIO IS OUT ON THE WEST COAST AND WE ARE WORKING HERE IN NYC... BUT I AM SURE WE WILL HOOK UP ON STUFF IN THE FUTURE.

Are there any plans to make your live shows (either audio or video) available for purchase? Even a compilation of previous, or forthcoming tours would be awesome.

NO PLANS LIKE THAT. ONCE SOMEONE SUGGESTED PUTTING THAT ONE SHOW THAT WAS BROADCAST LIVE ON MTV OUT ON DVD. IT WAS ONE OF THE IN THE ROUND SHOWS. I THINK WE WERE SOMEWHERE IN EUROPE.

How long have you been recording the next album?

I DON’T KNOW, MAYBE LIKE A YEAR, OR EVEN A LITTLE MORE THAN THAT.

Which Japanese subway station did you film the video for Intergalactic in?

I THINK IT’S 3 DIFFERENT STATIONS, BUT THE MAIN ONE IS SHINJUKU.

You guys are into listening and playing a lot of different kinds of music. If LTI wasn't as successful as it was, would you have put out the other rap records that you did (PB, CYH, IC, HN) or focus on another type of music?

I DON’T KNOW. MAYBE I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN MORE INTO SKEET SHOOTING, CHEESE FARMING OR ROLLERBLADE BASKET BALL.

How come there's no HC on the new album ? Did you guys get tired of playing that stuff ? I loved trashing my room to Heart Attack Man 8 years ago.

CAN I COME BY YOUR HOUSE AND TRASH YOUR ROOM TOO? I LOVE PLAYING HARDCORE, BUT IT HAS BEEN KIND OF NICE TO JUST FOCUS ON HIP HIP FOR A MINUTE. IT’S LIKE A DIFFERENT MIND SET, AND TO STAY IN IT FOR A STRETCH IS KIND OF NICE. PLAYING AN INSTRUMENT IS LIKE A DIFFERENT WAY OF THINKING.

Boxers or briefs?

CUP

Do you guys worry about the political nature of some of your more recent music alienating long time and recent fans?

SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LIKE SOME THINGS AND OTHERS OTHER STUFF. JUST GOT TO MAKE WHAT YOU FEEL AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

Why do I have to go to school?

GOOD QUESTION. I DON’T KNOW? DO YOU GET FREE ACCESS TO THE XEROX MACHINE?

Whats up with the wall at Prince & Mulberry? I have noticed that the Beastie Boys have had their photos taken at that location several times.

YEAH WHAT IS UP WITH THAT? WE ALWAYS END UP OVER THERE.

Horovitz uses the SP1200 and Diamond uses the MPC2000(XL), but which sampler do you use?

THE MPC60 WAS MY WEAPON OF CHOICE. BUT THESE DAYS I CAN DO EVERYTHING THAT I NEED TO IN PROTOOLS. SO I LOANED THE MPC60 TO A FRIEND……………. THAT REMINDS ME, WHAT’S UP WITH THAT? BILL!!!!! IF YOU READ THIS DON’T THINK THAT I FORGOT. AND WHILE YOUR AT IT BRING BACK THAT HEART OF DARKNESS LASER DISC AND ALL OF THE OTHER SHIT YOU BORROWED!!!

[Justin]

Is Freddy Adrocks cat? I bet it is.

[kleptomaniac]

*wipes off a tear* that was so beautiful...

Will you (Adam Y) ever sing 'I Don't Know' or 'Twenty Questions' live?

I DON’T KNOW. (NO PUN INTENDED)

[paulb]

thanks for reposting that Minton.

[timmie]

Nice read! So Yauch! you coming back on the boards!?!

he's watching us 24-7.

[kleptomaniac]

Originally Posted by alexandra

he's watching us 24-7.

i think he's got it backwards cuz we're supposed to be stalking him

[DJ_Skrilla]

my girl my girl dont lie to me, tell me where did u sleep last night?

Originally Posted by kleptomaniac

i think he's got it backwards cuz we're supposed to be stalking him

he's up in crawlspace, yo.

[kleptomaniac]

Originally Posted by alexandra

he's up in crawlspace, yo.

that's so creepy....yet....so comforting....

[milleson]

Originally Posted by Justin

Is Freddy Adrocks cat? I bet it is.

Why the hell would he walk a cat?

because he's crazy. and he said it in a phone-interview. and he's crazy.

Freddie is his dog tho'. and he'll bite your ass.

[laurie_hammy]

Originally Posted by alexandra

because he's crazy. and he said it in a phone-interview. and he's crazy.

Freddie is his dog tho'. and he'll bite your ass.

Oh Adrock's crazy, he dont get haircuts, he scrambles eggs, crazy shit !

[SpuffyRJ]

Originally Posted by paulb

thanks for reposting that Minton.

ditto.

[jackrock]

yea double on the thanks minton! hehe they are SO cool!

[Justin]

Originally Posted by milleson

Why the hell would he walk a cat?

During a radio interview KNDD in seattle the host asked adrock what he does for fun and he said something like " he plays boggle, wild stuff like that. He goes and gets haircuts, crazy shit like that. Scrambles eggs crazy stuff. Like I go out and walk my cat, like I'm nuts!

[camo]

"The Anthology DVD is one of the best produced Music DVDs around, and makes perfect use of all the capabilities of the technology, that being said...Are there any plans for a live DVD release for an upcoming tour, should one be taking place?

THANKS, THAT WOULD BE COOL. NO PLANS FOR A NEW DVD THOUGH."

Liar!