Beastie Boys Members, Gear & Sound

Genre

Rock Hip Hop Alternative rock Electro Alternative hip hop Hardcore punk Funk East Coast hip hop Rap rock Punk old school hip hop rap golden age hip hop prank calls

Members

Select a Beastie Boys band member to check out the music gear they use live and in the studio.

Adam Yauch

Roles:

Singer Bassist Rapper

Groups:

Triphammer

See Gear
Adam Horovitz (Ad-Rock)

Roles:

Singer Guitarist Bassist Rapper

Groups:

BS 2000 Dead Fucking Last The Young and the Useless The Tender Moments

See Gear
Rick Rubin

Roles:

Music Producer

Groups:

Hose The Pricks

See Gear
Mix Master Mike

Roles:

DJ

Groups:

Methods of Mayhem Cypress Hill The Rock Steady Crew Zulu Nation Invisibl Skratch Piklz Country Mike & the Boys Ekto Plasmik Tag Team F.M.2.0. Rock Steady DJ's Dream Team Travis Barker & Mix Master Mike

See Gear
Money Mark

Roles:

Keyboardist Music Producer

Groups:

Les Yper Sound Omar Rodriguez Lopez Group The Bottletop Band Broke Dick Dog Ekto Plasmik Tag Team Sprout House Band Lord Newborn & The Magic Skulls DOHM Mangchi Omar Rodriguez-Lopez Quintet The Atomic Bomb Band

See Gear
Eric "Bobo" Correa

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

Cypress Hill Soul Assassins Sol Invicto Foamfoot Ritmo Machine Audio Hustlaz Los Hooligans

See Gear
Michael Diamond (Mike D)

Roles:

Singer Drummer Rapper

Groups:

The Flophaus Society Orchestra Country Mike & the Boys The Latch Brothers

Needs more gear

See Gear
Alfredo Ortiz

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

Los Lobos Tito & Tarantula Gogol Bordello Ozomatli Morningwood Maximum Hedrum Band of Psychos Yeska

Needs more gear

See Gear
Mike D

Roles:

Singer Music Producer

Groups:

Triphammer The Flophaus Society Orchestra Country Mike & the Boys The Latch Brothers Big Fat Love Puzzled Panthers ABA All-Stars

No gear added

See Gear
Ad‐Rock

Roles:

Guitarist Music Producer

Groups:

BS 2000 The Young and the Useless The Tender Moments

No gear added

See Gear
Kate Schellenbach

Roles:

Drummer

Groups:

Luscious Jackson Wench Ladies Who Lunch Hagatha

No gear added

See Gear
Mario Caldato Jr.

Roles:

Bassist Keyboardist Music Producer

Groups:

The Bottletop Band Los Hooligans ABA All-Stars

No gear added

See Gear
DJ Hurricane

Roles:

Music Producer DJ

Groups:

Triphammer The Afros

No gear added

See Gear
Adam Horovitz

Roles:

Rapper Music Producer

Groups:

BS 2000 Dead Fucking Last The Young and the Useless

No gear added

See Gear
Doctor Dré

Roles:

DJ

Groups:

Original Concept

No gear added

See Gear
Walter Miranda

Roles:

Keyboardist

Groups:

The All‐Star Jam Session Yeska

No gear added

See Gear

About

Beastie Boys are an iconic American group that revolutionized the fusion of hip hop, punk, and rock music. Formed in New York City in 1981, the band originally started as a hardcore punk outfit before transitioning into the genre-defying act they became known for. The core trio consisted of Michael "Mike D" Diamond (vocals, drums), Adam "MCA" Yauch (vocals, bass), and Adam "Ad-Rock" Horovitz (vocals, guitar). Their eclectic approach saw them pioneering the alternative hip hop and rap rock genres, drawing from a diverse array of influences and creating a sound that was both innovative and instantly recognizable.

How to Sound Like Beastie Boys

The sound of Beastie Boys is an exhilarating mix of gritty, raw energy and experimental sonics. Their music is characterized by the use of distorted guitars, booming bass lines, and intricate sampling. Adam Yauch's bass, often powered through a Gallien-Krueger 800RB Bass Amp Head, provides a powerful low-end that underpins their tracks. Meanwhile, Ad-Rock's guitar work, frequently employing the Boss DS-1 Distortion, contributes to their aggressive, punk-infused sound. The group's ability to seamlessly blend live instrumentation with electronic elements, such as the legendary beats from the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer, allows them to navigate effortlessly between genres, making their music both unpredictable and timeless.

Discography

Licensed To Ill

1986

Paul's Boutique (20th Anniversary Edition / Remastered)

1989

Check Your Head (Deluxe Edition/Remastered/2009)

1992

Ill Communication

1994

Aglio E Olio

1995

Hello Nasty (Deluxe Edition/Remastered)

1998

To The 5 Boroughs

2004

The Mix-Up

2007

Hot Sauce Committee (Pt. 2)

2011

Get the Beastie Boys Sound

Want to sound like Beastie Boys? This gear comes straight from the setups of the band's members, based on proven sources. Dive into each artist's page for more detail and inspiration.