Text:
Mike D. of the Beastie Boys Gloves and Goggles, 1999
Collection of Mike Diamond
The Beastie Boys came together in 1979 as a punk band called the Young Aboriginies. As the Beastie Boys, Adam Yauch (MCA), Mike Diamond (Mike D.) and Adam Horowitz (Ad-rock) released “Cooky Puss,” based on a prank call by the group to a local ice cream chain, in 1983. It became a hit in New York underground dance clubs. The band recorded Licensed to Ill in 1986. It became the best selling rap album of the 1980’s and was the first rap album to go Number One on Billboard’s album chart, where it stayed for five weeks. The first single from the album, “Fight For Your Right,” reached Number Seven on the Billboard Hot 100, and the video became and MTV staple. Mike D. wore these items in the video for the group’s 1999 hit, “Intergalactic.” The song won the Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group, while the video won the 1999 MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video.